























■% 




\ ' 8 



c- C 

' i^ ^ « I ' ’^ \V ^ ^ ^ 

^ V S*' - 

. ^ <''r. \\- ^ 



^ o ^ k'*" a '■/ rY^ ^ ^ ^ 



’ A 



y « /?S. 

y --'' o'" p.0 C;- i, A - 


i> N 0 rvV* '\ fr O 



CD 4\V* 





1'-^^ ^ ■'ll,'' 





•>) <?V \V 1 

li 

^ c'^> ® ^ 



2, ^ 

c. «>* * aV <p 

' / V, 

■>* ■ 

- ^ 

cw. ^0 o^. 

e,. ^8 0" \^ 

% .* ml/A t -’'^p <& 

> <^, 


s' '?.' cf'. 0 

V '' 


y 

0 * s A ' / o i. S " ' , , 8 

c?, ,0' v**^ ’*- 




■r <>* \ 

M o (y 

f* , li y c ^0 

o>- ^ o^ ^0 

\V s « * / ^ 

«5r 


0^"' *0- 


^ .V> ^ 

. ® K V ^ 


. 0 . . X':^'/t ^ . A/ - v\. 0 c- ,:%;• 

y .v- <‘ - u s 


s" 


i A'^^' 




0 If K 



.T> ^ 

c xO ^ 


.■( 


s>'o 


.V ^ .0 s 0 ^ ^ 8 1 A*" A 

= v^ ^ ^v o - -S;, c.'i . A\M/A ° '^<P 4 ^ 

^ CL ^ “" <XV 'J^ 

r/% \Waa^ a*. 

,0^ ^o.x'i'.vs 



jv" ^. ' ' » A'-A A^'‘ ° ^ ^ ^ ^ cC>^ ' ’ ^ 

0^ y^jr?9^\ A '" C ^ 

"* r\ ^ * ,/A® * - ,y *’ 

A'"- 

1 1 ^ y 




0 If \ 



A ^oN c '/^ 

J> '■'sCVv ^ 





A -0^ V. . 

0 ^ ^ * 0 ^ o V A 

a'O ^ ,c 3 ca ^ 4-. ^ 

' '^MA'’- 'A a 

" $’'\ y% '»:« 



O 'f , c s A 

'^- ■< O <r S <SA 





'V jr 

^ v\ ^ ^ 

» l^p ' 

<*• y<» .V» 

^ \v « 





■ft ^ 

r- « 


-,/. '•"■ C^' , 

^ r O V 4 

« -P^ . <v , 

® -vV ^ ' 

1 O --A'A ^ 











ft 
















thirty Days 


tt)? Leadinq News Compani 




i 


Angels of Commerce 

OR, 

THIRTY days' 

WITH THE 

DRUMMERS OF ARKANSAS 


BY , 

GEORGE H. BRISCOE. 

)> 




NEW'YORK : 


PRESS OF THE PUBTJSIIERS’ PRINTING CO., 
30 & 32 West 13TH Street. 

1891. 



Copyrighted, 1891, 

BY 

GEORGE H. BRISCOE. 


A ll Rights Reserved. 


To 


THE DRUMMERS, 

THE FRIENDS OF MY LIFE, 
I DEDICATE THIS, 

THE WORK OF MY HANDS. 


% 





PEEFAOE. 


T N sending* out this review of a thirty-days’ trip 
through Arkansas, a few things demand ex- 
planation. 

Most of the incidents crowded into its pages are 
from real life, although they cover a period of eigh- 
teen or twenty years. 

If the author has been guilty of stealing other 
people’s thunder, or of using old and worn-out gags, 
in order to embellish the work, the public must con- 
sider that he has been the victim of these same gags 
for a score of years, and that a drummer’s *life is 
made up, to a certain extent, of them. 

If he has introduced half as many characters as 
he has pages, it is because a thirty-days’ trip will 
embrace that number of different ones every time, 
and often even more. 

The main object of the book has been to show 
the different phases of a drummer’s life, and also 
the fact that the average travelling man is equal 


6 


PREFACE. 


to any emerg*ency; and while perhaps the delinea- 
tion of his most heroic trait has been omitted — viz., 
that of endurance of a shock and the accompanying 
anguish, such as comes to one who receives a tele- 
gram announcing the serious illness or death of 
wife, mother, child, or friend — it is because the 
author’s life thus far has, happily, escaped any such 
calamity. 

Cognizant of many imperfections and yet hoping 
that this little volume may bring a smile and some 
sunshine into the lives and hearts of the hosts of 
"representatives at large” throughout the land, 
it is now launched upon the sea of commerce by 


The Author. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


CHAPTER I. 

^^’twas the wild midnight.” 

“As I walked through the wilderness of this world I lighted on a certain 
place where there was a den and laid me down in that place to sleep, and as 
I slept I dreamed a dream.”— .Bww^/an. 

Possibly some of my readers may inquire why I 
should start a storj^ of this kind on a wild midnight, 
hut the average drummer well knows that it would 
he almost impossible to start anything on a tame 
midnight in south Arkansas. 

Sagittarius had just succeeded in chasing the 
Dog-star out of the southern sky. Her majesty the 
moon had not yet risen (having been full most of 
the week previous). Venus, who had been playing 
a star engagement every night during the season, 
had retired, after blushingly bidding an au revoir 
to Orion, and that redoubtable warrior had buckled 
on his sword-belt, and was on the point of starting 
on a still hunt for the Great Bear ; while on the 
earth below the wind blew through the shutters of 
the New Bennefield hotel in Texarkana. 


8 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


In one of the room^ on the first fioor — next to the 
roof — of this caravansary, two drummers, George 
Deshrough and Chesleigh Horton, lay quietly, wear- 
ing the night away; their ears pounding the pillows 
with a monotonous regularity that threatened to 
dislocate their necks, if some change were not made 
in position that would relieve the strain upon their 
overworked brains. 

George Desbrough was the typical drummer — 
full of business, yet given to anecdote old and new; 
could play a few pieces on the piano and sing. 
Hadn^t a particle of voice, you know, but he would 
sing anything ; was correspondent for certain 
papers ; fair at sketching; wrote poetry like a ma- 
chine — in fact, this was his one great failing : he was 
always writing poetry and reading it to his friends. 

On this particular night it happened that a sort 
of nightmare vision came to him, in which poetry, 
prose, and a general conglomeration of ideas flitted 
through his brain. 

He and his friend Horton had left a call, the even- 
ing previous, for a belated train that might come 
at almost any time before morning, and now he im- 
agined that he was alone and on his way to the 
station, which seemed to be several blocks away. 

As he left the hotel he sang softly to himself : 

“Street-cars, they make me grow weary, 

They drag me so wearily over the track. 

Has the train come ? Ah, that is the query: 

I’ll give up a quarter and get in a hack.” 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


9 


He had scarcely arrived at the railway station 
ere the Texas and St. Louis narrow-g-auge express 
came thundering in at the rate of forty-five miles 
in every few hours, and the passengers (who had 
impatiently awaited its coming ever since the seven 
A.M. train on the Iron Mountain) now gazed upon 
its approach with hated breaths — bated with cheese, 
sandwiches, and beer. 

As the train only stopped thirty minutes to trans- 
fer baggage, the people were naturally anxious to 
get on board as quickly as possible. 

Hold ! cried the brakesman in stentorian tones. 

Stand back! 

This the crowd did for an instant, and Desbrough 
_ observed that they did not hesitate to trample 
under foot those standing back of them. • 

But few escaped, nearly all eventually getting 
into the car. 

“ You may call me a bummer, 

An agent, a runner, 

A salesman or drummer, 

Or whatever you can; 

But you’ll always regret it, 

And don’t you forget it, 

If you ever go back on 
A travelling man,” 

hummed Desbrough as he elbowed his way through 
the intense gloom. 

Sleepah?” 

No, sail, smokah” 


JO 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


The question was propounded by the society por- 
ter of the Pullman car service and answered by 
this representative at larg’e for Hustle & Co. 

Boss, it only costs a dollah to Pine Bluff.^^ 

" ThaPs all right, Petey. If my house should dis- 
cover that Pd been asleep they^d discharge me." 
Then folding his linen duster, three sample cases, 
and two valises more tightly about his person, he 
silently wended his way toward the smoking-car. 

It being an unusually warm night, all the windows 
and doors were closed. 

Entering, he deposited his luggage on two or three 
of the best vacant seats, and removing his celluloid 
collar, burned it to slow music, in order to neutralize, 
in some degree, the odor, which was of a nature that 
would have driven a dog out of a tan-yard. Then he 
composed himself (not to sleep — a drummer never 
sleeps — he closes his eyes and thinks). 

He was 

Only a way-worn drummer, 

Only a faded man, 

Working as hard all summer 
As only a drummer can. 

Bringing his house some orders 
From the merchants down below, 

In the smallest towns on the borders. 

Through sunshine or through snow. 

Almost before he knew it the day was breaking, 
but he heeded it not. What cared he if it did break? 
It didnT owe his house anything. 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


11 


Out of the silent sea the sun arose, and softly dis- 
persing the morning's mist by his brilliant rays, 
paused ever and anon to kiss the goldenrod and 
asters. 

But Desbrough paused not (he couldn't; the train 
kept him moving). 

"Tickets!" called the gentlemanly conductor as 
he emerged from the sleeper, where he had been as- 
sorting the tickets from the cash, in order to turn 
the former over to the company's authorized agent. 
But Desbrough 

“ In the morning, warm and gray, 

Lifeless but beautifully lay. 

Unconscious of the coming fray, 

And so forth and et cetera.” 

He was dead. 

Died from exposure and excess — on baggage. 

He knew that he was dead and powerless to help 
himself, and yet he was conscious of all that trans- 
pired around him. 

He had a realizing sense, too, that if proper mea- 
sures were applied he would be brought back to 
life, and so it was with more than ordinary interest ' 
that he watched for coming events. 

When they took him off at Pine Bluff, it made 
him mad to see how carefully they lifted him and 
then with what reckless daring they threw his bag- 
gage after him. 

They had lived so long together that they seemed 


12 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


part and parcel of each other, and he thought in a 
grim way to himself : 

It"s the first time, dear old lugagge, that I have 
ever seen you so abused and have not kicked. You 
have my sympathy and — regrets,^^ and then-^ — 

The conductor called up the coroner’s clerk. 

Saying : Hello ! Hello ! ! Oh Helldh ! ! ! ” 

And that patient party, having paused from his 
work. 

Answered: "Well oh, well oh! Oh well oh!” 

" Come down to the station,” the conductor replied. 
"We’ve a drummer on board of the train that has 
died.” 

" Oh, that is all right, just take him inside 

Of the depot. Poor fellow, poor fellow.” 

Slowly, solemnly — even cheerfully , one might 
almost say — the coroner and his followers mean- 
dered in the direction of the beautiful and palatial 
railway station. 

Here they found the baggage-master singing as 
if his heart would break. 

Hastily summoning the necessary witnesses, they 
proceeded to "set” on the dead subject and hatched 
out the following verdict : 

We, the undersigned, find that the deceased is 
dead. We also find seventy dollars in his pocket. 
As we find a revolver on his person, he is fined $50 
for carrying concealed weapons. As we cannot find 
his address, the balance of the find will be donated 


ANGELS OF CO.M3IERCE. 


13 


to the city authorities to help toward g’iving’ him a 
decent burial. 

Salary et his income net’' 

There was not .a dry tear in the house after this 
verdict had been rendered, and wringing* the corpse’s 
hand they again filed solemnly out and across the 
street, where a moment later 

They stood on the saloon floor, 

' Their eyes were filled with beers. 

They had stood there oft before, 

But this was the greatest snap for years. 

With heavy breaths they cried, 

“ Bar-keep, we say to thee. 

If the drummer hadn’t died 
We wouldn’t be so free.” 

Desbrough had for seventeen years experienced 
gall in every degree, but the hand-shaking by the 
select jury proved too munh for his sensitive nature 
and was the straw that broke the bonds of death. 

They had scarcely retired from his presence ere 
he slowly opened his eyes, wearily raised his head, 
and reaching up under his coat was about to ring 
his chestnut bell, when a tremendous thumping on 
the door of his room aroused him from his somnam- 
bulistic vision, and he found himself sitting bolt up- 
right in bed and saying to his friend Horton : 

Chess, I wish you would see who has mistaken 
the door for a bass drum.” 

And then a voice from the outside : 

“ Boss, Tse jus’ cum to tole yer dat de train am 
done gone norf ’bout fifteen minutes.” 


14 


Al^GELS OE COMMERCE. 


Well, what did 3^011 wake us up for then ? ” 

Why, boss, 3^ou done tole me to call yer when de 
train cum.” 

Isn’t that just like a nigger ? he hasn’t got as 
much sense as a side of bacon.” And then: Well, 
3mu go on away, and if you come to that door again 
before eight o’clock in the morning and so much as 
breathe on it. I’ll paralyze you first and break your 
shins afterward.” 

" All right, boss, but you done tole me to wake 
you up.” 

And then, like the Arab, he silently steals away 
(principally for the reason that there is nothing else 
he can steal). 

What will we do now, George ? ” asks Hor- 
ton. 

Go to sleep, I reckon.” 

"Yes, I know; but how are we going to get out 
of this blamed town ? ” 

"There are several ways. We can walk out, go 
a-foot, or ride; personally I prefer the latter, but am 
not so used to luxury that I couldn’t endure the 
former, if necessary. However,” continues Des- 
brough, "I suggest that we go to Hope in the 
morning on the cars, take the ^ Dolly Varden’ train 
in the evening for Nashville, and let this other road 
suffer for want of our patronage and cash fare. 
I have just had a dream about the ^ Narrow Gauge ^ 
that I don’t like ; ” and Desbrough relates his experi- 


Al5tal^LS OF COMMEliCE. 


15 


ence, adding that "it was too real for him to care 
to attempt it again.” 

" And so we won’t go to Camden and Magnolia 
at all ? ” Horton says. 

"Certainly not. We make just the same time 
(eighteen miles an hour) and have just as much fun 
by letting them pass, and I reckon we’ll sell just as 
many goods.” 

" All right, just as you say. Good-night.” 

" Good-night, Chess.” 


16 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


CHAPTER IL 


The world is filled with folly and sin, 

And love must cling where it can, I say; 

For beauty is easy enough to win, 

But one isn't loved every day.— Owen Meredith. 

" George ! 

Georg-e ! ! ! ^^ 

Well, what is it 

" It^s seven, o^clock and our train leaves for Hope 
at half-past eight/^ 

Well, I dgn^t see any use in getting up in the 
middle of the night to take an eight-o’clock train.” 

It isn’t midnight by any means; the sun has 
been up for two hours.” 

" He ought to have been. He has farther to go 
than we have.’ 

All the same, if you don’t hustle, we won’t go 
at all.” 

All right. Chess ; but if I hadn’t a wife and two 
children at home crying for bread — and no bread — 
I’d give old Morpheus another whirl just for luck.” 
And Desbrough lazily crawls out of bed, yawns, and 
then asks: 

What time was it when that misguided African 
woke us up last night ? ” 

I don’t know, but it must have been after mid- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


17 


night. What on earth do you suppose he wanted 
to come and wake us up for, after the train had 
left?^" 

He had an idea that it was the proper thing to 
do, I suppose. We had left a call and he called, and 
I reckon he felt that he had done his whole duty and 
that we would be pleased to hear that the train had 
really come after so long a time. It was the inf or- 
mation^ he thought, we were after, not the train. 
One can never beat it through their thick skulls to 
do the right thing at the right time.” 

" Well, I think you rather impressed him with the 
idea that he came at the wrong time last night.” 

" Impressed f Why, he never thought of it, 
probably, after he got out of range from our door. 
But do you know I did have some notion of throwing 
something at him at the time, but was too deucedly 
lazy to get up and attend to it.” 

Where is your wife now, George ?” 

" She is at our home in Memphis, where I hope to 
be ere many weeks.” 

And the boys — are they pretty well ? ” 

"Yes, Chess is. Phil had a terrible attack the 
other day. Didn^t think he’d live for a few minutes.” 

Why, you never told me of this. What was the 
matter ? ” 

For reply Desbrough goes to his coat and gets a 
letter recently received from his wife, and then says : 

" m read you what J ulie says about it. 

2 


18 


ANGELS oi" COMMEECE. 


'^^When I awoke this morning’, it was eight 
o^clock. As usual. Chess was first man on deck. 
I crawled out and finally got dressed. It was rain- 
ing bitterly,^’ as Chess remarked, so I said to my- 
self, "This lets me out of going to church — 111 
rest.” 

"^Presently Phil sent down a call that he was ill 
— don^t be needlessly alarmed now, I beg of you! 
Of course you are nearly scared to death to have it 
come upon you so suddenly, but it was really not so 
dangerous as doubtless your nervousness would 
lead you to think at first. 

" ‘ I asked him if he thought he would improve if 
he came down-stairs into my bed. He did. So he 
came reeling and staggering down, holding his head 
in both hands, and sank into the bed nearly " done 
up” with illness — or something. He called for a 
wash-bowl and nearly dislocated and dismembered 
himself trying to bring forth evidence that he was 
in a very low state, but in vain. However, he had 
to call me to his aid every few minutes; had to have 
cold water on his head constantly and fresh water 
to drink frequently. 

" ^ Gradually his appetite came to him, but for a 
while he moaned and tossed in a truly heart-rending 
way. I sent over to get a little bread of Mrs. 
Thomas to toast, as he could not eat gems or soft- 
boiled eggs or rice. He ate a small bit of toast with 
great difficulty, then fell back groaning and breath- 


ANGELS OP COMMEKCE. 


19 


less with the effort. Gradually, however, he recov- 
ered, ate up all the toast, got Chess to make him 
more, discarded the cold-water compress, but had 
a terrible fit of moaning and tossing, which he de- 
clared was because he was so tired lying so long 
IN BED and he was so hungry. 

‘‘ " Then I suggested that he get up and eat We 
had finished our breakfast by this time and every- 
thing was cold. He ate up all the cold potato, rice, 
some pork and beans, a lot of cold gems (he had not 
been able to eat hot ones), two or three eggs, coffee, 
and everything he could see, and that cured him. 
No one who saw him playing base-ball or kicking 
a foot-ball or racing around the yard ten minutes 
afterward would have believed it could possibly have 
been that physical wreck that lay panting and 
gasping on his pillow an hour before. I trust I have 
not needlessl3^ alarmed you in my recital of our 
son^s indisposition. 

^ I am able now to assure you that I think he is 
perfectly restored to his usual health. Nor does 
his strength seem impaired by his illness, and it will 
not be necessary for you to come home on his ac- 
count.’^" 

This letter is read with manj^- laughs and com- 
ments, and Desbrough, as he folds it and returns it 
to the envelope, remarks : " Every time Phil has a 
^ sun grin ^ he thinks he has the colic, and his patient 
mother, not being quite sure which it is, gives him 


20 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


the benefit of the doubt and waits on him like a 
faithful nurse, as she is. 

Chess, like his namesake — with a glance at Hor- 
ton, for whom Desbrough^s younger boy has been 
named — " is true as steel, and you never hear from 
him unless there is something seriously the matter.” 

" How I should like to see them all,” says Horton. 

And you shall, for you are going home with me 
when our trip is finished. I am ^ dead set ^ on that. 
But say. Chess, talking about wives and children 
and the best remedy for croup — the last time I was 
in Hope, a young lady (her sister runs the hotel 
there) took advantage of my gray hairs and told 
me she had discovered, only a few weeks previous, 
that r was a married man, and that it had been a 
terrible blow to her. 

"I asked her if she didn’t think it would blow 
over, but she frowned me down and continued that 
she had been rather putting a tin roof on an air 
castle herself, under which she had hoped to preside 
as Mrs. Desbrough ! ' Are you really married ? ’ she 
asked abruptly, and I replied, ^Whj^, Lord bless 
you. Miss Fannie, I’ve been married all my life. 
Married a widow with seven children. She was ten 
years my senior and my eldest stepson is only six 
years younger than I.’ 

"""Oh, dear me,' she said, "truly? Why, how old 
ARE you, Mr. Desbrough ? ’ " Fifty-two,’ I told her 
unblushingly; "I have five boys on the road— all 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


21 


drummers, you know, and two daughters, one 
teaching school and the other giving music lessons. 
My wife occasionally takes in washing, so altogether 
we manage to live pretty comfortably. If we all 
hold our jobs another year, my wife will probably 
retire from the laundry business, and I hope to move 
into an air castle myself.^ 

'^^Do you know I don^t believe a word of it?^ she 
said. 

^ Miss Fannie, you can re-lie on whatever I tell 
you,’ I replied. ^People are apt to think that we 
drummers are a great deal worse than those that 
talk about us, but you’ll find that the more you as- 
sociate with us, the less regard you will have for the 
truth.’ 

"'Yes, I believe that,’ she said, 'in all sincerity; 
but I wish I knew whether you were married or 
not.’ 

" ' I will tell you how you can easily find out,’ I 
told her. 'Mail one of your photographs to my ad- 
dress, care of my wife, and if she scratches the eyes 
out and returns it give up the chase; but on the 
other hand, if it is returned indorsed "No such 
party at address given,” you can enlarge the dining- 
room of your air castle and send me word, with the 
assurance that I will be on hand to take my posi- 
tion as master of ceremonies.’ ” 

" Did she ever send the photo ? ” 

"No, indeed. I gave her my right address, but 


22 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


she felt too certain that it would be irredeemably 
ruined to take the chances.^^ 

" Did you ever tell your wife ? ” 

Certainly. I tell her ^everything. If the picture 
had been sent to her, she would have given it a 
prominent place on the mantel and ^pointed with 
pride,^ as editors say, every time a visitor came, 
proud that her husband is popular enough with the 
fair sex to be favored with such mementoes.” 

^^Isn^t she ever jealous of your carryings on ?” 

"Jealous! She knows that I wouldn^t give her 
little finger for all the young ladies in the State of 
Arkansas, and that’s saying a great deal too, for 
there are hosts of estimable ones here. 

" Chess, I’ve a great many friends in this world, 
but only two loves, my mother and my wife; and 

“ ‘ When my heart forgets them, may it cease to beat, 
Forgetting all things if it fail in this.’ 

Come on, let’s go to breakfast. I declare, it takes 
you longer to dress than any man of your size I 
ever saw.” 

Now Horton (who is rather diminutive and goes 
upon the principle that small packages must be done 
up neatly in order to command respect) pays more 
attention to his toilet than Desbrough thinks neces- 
sary. He is nevertheless sensitive to a high degree 
upon the subject of his size, and such a remark com- 
ing from any one but his friend would be regarded 
as a personal insult. These men, however, have 


ANGELS OF COM3IERCE. 


23 


been companions too long* to let any personal mat- 
ter affect the tender regard they have for each other. 

Besides, Desbrough (who is a tall, strapping fellow 
himself) has that admiration for small people that 
so frequently is the result of affinity in opposites. 

Their essential qualities are as adverse as their 
statures, and it is as natural for the one to be dis- 
creet and proper as for the other to be irrepressible 
aad — as Horton says — ‘^always making some bad 
break.” 

At breakfast they meet Lon Smith, who under- 
takes” to sell coffins, and after introducing him to 
Horton, Desbrough supplements his statement 
that Lon weighs 260 pounds and is a fit marker 
for the business,” by saying: You should see his 
brother — he is fully one hundred pounds heavier and 
is in the same line. It is a queer thing, but you 
never see any one in the undertaking business that 
is not fat and jolly and better fitted for running a 
circus than a hearse. I travelled with Smith once 
for two weeks, and Til give you my ^Alfred David ^ 
that in all that time his face was in a broad grin.” 

^^Yes — rd like to see any one travel with Des- 
brough and not grin all the time,” answers Lon. 

^^But the idea,” Desbrough continues, ^^of a man 
whose tastes all run to hot tomatoes ” (which is more 
or less true, for Smith is passionately fond of this 
warm Mexican fruit ”) going through the country 
and selling a line of goods that properly belongs to 


24 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


a solemn professional man of lank form and drawn 
features, one who has lost friends and fortune and 
was horn with a sympathetic heart in him as big as 
an ox. Did you ever notice a funeral director — his 
compassion and sorrowful countenance, and the 
difference in the amount of sympathy shown the 
wealthy mourner and the pauper ? ” 

^^It is an art/' replies Smith. "We study to 
please, just as you do in your line. If you should 
go to one of your customers to sell drugs and ap- 
proach him hilariously, and endeavor ^to make him 
believe that the people were healthier than usual, 
and that there would be but little sickness this fall 
— if any — he wouldn^t buy a dollar^s worth of you. 
You must speak of the fine crop prospects and 
the certainty of an epidemic that is sure to carry 
the dear people away, before you can interest him, 
and to be frank with you, if it wasn’t for you drug 
men my business would starve to death.” 

"Well, I haven’t helped you out much this trip, 
for I haven’t sold enough to either kill or cure many 
of your dear people." 

After this they breakfast in silence for some mo- 
ments, till Desbrough, looking at his watch, ex- 
claims, " Chess, we will have to hurry and get our 
luggage together, for it is almost train-time,” and 
then — with a pitying glance at Smith — "Lon, I 
should hate to have your appetite.” 

"Yes,” retorts Smith with his mouth still full, "if 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


25 


you had my appetite and your brains youM starve 
to death.” 

I certainly should, for I would not cater to any- 
thing* so unholy. Say, why don^t you stuff it with 
straw or tomatoes ? ” 

Wish I could — hut wait, boys, and Til he with 
you in a moment.” 

That^s hardly necessary, for you are not going 
our way, anyhow. When did you say you were 
coming up the road ? ” 

To-morrow. I am not going to stop at Nash- 
ville or Hope, so I will just about catch you at 
Prescott.” 

All right. We’ll expect you — if you get through 
by that time.” 

And so they leave him to his fate and hurry on- 
ward to the train that is to bear them away toward 
Hope. 


26 


ANGELS OE COMMERCE. 


CHAPTER III. 

“ Honor maintaining, 

Meanness disdaining, 

Still entertaining, 

Engaging and nevr."— Anonymous. 

•^Mr. Riffel, allow me to introduce my very 
dear friend Mr. Cliesleigh Horton. Why, hello! 
If here isn^t Ed Angel and George Breedlove. 
When did you get here, hoys ? Mr. Horton 1 my 
friends Angel and Breedlove. Horton and I have 
just come from Texarkana, and I have been telling 
him about Miss Fannie Purcell and her sister and 
promising an evening of rare entertainment, provid- 
ing we can get them to sing and pla^^ for us.^^ 

They have a couple of cousins or relatives of 
some sort visiting them,^^ Breedlove remarks, " and 
they are quite as fine musicians as are the Misses 
Purcell.” 

"And,” Angel interrupts, "just as good cooks too, 
I judge, for we are having the finest kind of living.” 

" Yes,” Desbrough says, "the Misses Purcell are 
certainly fine caterers, and well take Angeks word 
for the other young ladies. But say, Ed, have 3^ou 
umpired base-ball lately ? Mr. Angel was up at 
Arkadelphia last month. Chess, and the kids and 
some back-country team were to play a match game. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


27 


but were without an umpire. Ed is a regular crank 
on base-ball, and when they requested him to act as 
referee he doffed his coat, mopped his brow furiously, 
and then accepted so gracefully that the mob gave 
him three cheers and a tiger. But the first decision 
made by him came near resulting in a row between 
the factions. At any rate there was a sort of a 
^ conflagration ^ and Ed was fired, and he has been 
studying the rules and regulations of the game ever 
since, trying to find out what kind of a break he did 
make. W ell ! if here isn^t Trimble and Tom Harmon. 
You met them here last spring. Chess. Howdy, 
boys. I was just telling Horton of Ed Angehs 
umpiring at Arkadelphia."^ 

"Yes, Desbrough was there, and he won’t deny 
that my decision was right.” 

" Certainly, Ed, but the boys wanted to play by 
the old rules and your decision was according to 
^ Hoyle.’ Speaking of Hoyle, boys— can’t we have 
a game at ' hearts ’ this evening ? not the common 
every-day hearts, you know, that our ancestors and 
our ^ aunts ’ sisters’ used to play ‘ befo’ de wah,’ and 
that Tom Harmon has been trying to play ever 
since, bdt real card hearts.” 

"Desbrough, you talk too much” (this from 
Harmon). 

" That’s all right, Tom. I have to, in my business, 
and at any rate you don’t expect to monopoli2;e Miss 
Fannie’s company all the evening, do you ? ” 


28 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


N-0,” answers Tom half hesitating-ly (for he is 
sort of a sweetheart to the lady in question and had 
been figuring on this very thing), but I haven’t a 
bit of use for cards.” 

" No,” puts in Breedlove. I wouldn’t have either, 

Tom, if I could play real hearts, like you.” 

"We ought to be able to get up something better 
than a card party,” says Trimble. " George Powell 
and Levi Wade are here, and we couldn’t all play, 
anyhow.” 

"Well, I’ll tell you what,” answers Breedlove. 
" Miss Fannie whistles beautifully and sings like a 
bird, and plays the piano like — like — like ” 

" The devil” suggests Trimble. 

"And Tom Walker,” puts in Tom Harmon. 

" Or Tom Harmon,” says Angel. 

" Like a music teacher,” continues Breedlove, un- 
heeding these attempts at making his comparisons 
odious, " and why can’t we have a social time, with 
cards and music and dancing and a speech from 
Tom McLeod ? ” 

"What! Tom McLeod here?” interrupts Des- 
brough. " What is this, anyhow — a drummers’ con- 
vention ? ” 

" Looks that way ” — this from Angel — " but you 
boys have kept up such an everlasting chattering 
that we haven’t been able to hear from Miss Fannie 
yet.” 

" I’ll soon find out,” Harmon volunteers, and after 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


29 


a few moments^ absence returns with the informa- 
tion that Miss Fannie will be delig-hted to amuse 
the young gentlemen, with the assistance of her 
sister and friends/^ 

And so it is arranged that a sort of impromptu 
affair shall take place after supper, and the boys 
(all travelling men are bo^s, regardless of age, 
stature, or previous condition) hasten away to at- 
tend to business pursuits, in order,” as Horton re- 
marks, to be able to enjoy to the fullest the evening 
set aside for pleasure, without having the spectre 
of ^ Job Lots ^ continually rising up before them.” 
In the evening, " the informal gathering ” results in 
music, dancing, card-playing, and wit and humor 
without stint, for in social parties of this kind 
the drummers are given to good-natured repartee. 
There are good voices among both ladies and gen- 
tlemen, and solos, duets, and quartettes are ren- 
dered, if not correctly, at least with a harmony that 
incites favorable comment, and the evening wears 
quickly away until Desbrough exclaims: People, 
do you know it is twelve o’clock, and Tom Harmon, 
I know, is suffering from too much society,” which 
raises a laugh, for they all realize that Tom would 
have enjoyed himself better had he been permitted 
to pass a portion of the evening in Miss Fannie’s 
society alone. But Tom replies good-naturedly: 

Don’t you worry, Desbrough — I’m going to be 
here for a week.” Then Horton says : 


30 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


Desbrough, show us a trick at cards and we’ll 
all retire,” at which Desbrough methodically takes 
up the deck and shuffles the cards thoroughly, asks 
one of the ladies to cut, and then remarks : 

^^Now, ladies and gentlemen, I will first roll up 
my sleev3s in order that you may ascertain for your- 
selves that I have no false pockets in my vest. You 
will also observe that I wear no artificial mustache 
and that my feet are mates. Unlike others in my 
profession, I do not have to seek the loan of the 
open-faced gentleman’s watch on my left ” — turning 
to Eiffel — “ nor will I seek to borrow a silver dollar 
from him.” 

"You couldn’t without giving good security,” in- 
terrupts Eiffel, but Desbrough pays no attention to 
this sally — although the rest do — but goes ahead 
with his trick. He holds the cards face downward 
and allows each one of the party to draw one, re- 
questing them to " examine it carefully and be sure 
they would recognize its face in any crowd,” and 
then goes on to say: "How, I propose to leave the 
deck Ijdng on the piano; I also propose to leave 
the room, and as long as I am about it, I will leave 
the piano too. 

" While I am absent, I desire that you each re- 
turn the card you now hold to the deck. Let one 
of your number thoroughly shuffle it and hide the 
cards, and when I come back I will take any one 


ANGELS OE COMMEECE. 


31 


whom you may designate by the hand, and through 
the process called mind-reading will not only find 
the pack, hut tell each what card he drew from 
it.” And bowing to the assembled dozen or so, he 
retires. 

At this Angel springs to his feet and wildly whis- 
pers, " Give ^em to me ! ” and this being done, he 
nervously shuffles them (until he nearly wears them 
out) and then sits on them, remarking that he will 
defy a greater mind than Desbrough’s to discover 
as small a package as that underneath his two hun- 
dred pounds of flesh.” 

Everything being in readiness. Miss Fannie goes 
to the door and calls, Mr. Deshrough, we^re ready 
now,” but Desbrough does not respond. She re- 
peats the call several times, and then goes to the 
hotel office, to see if he perchance has gone in there, 
but finds him not. 

In the mean time Angel sits bolt upright in his 
chair, mopping the perspiration from his face, which 
wears an expression of determination to do or die 
(that would have sure given the secret away had 
Desbrough returned), until Miss Fannie comes back 
and says, " Do you know I believe that rascal has 
gone to bed.” 

And then it dawns upon their minds that Des- 
brough had said he would do all this when he re- 
turned, but that he had no idea of returning, and 


32 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


SO the party breaks up with laughter and promises 
to pay him hack for his little joke,” though, bless 
you, they enjoy it far more than he, for he cannot 
hear the good-natured badinage that attends their 
departure for the night. 


AKGELR OF COMMERCE. 


33 


CHAPTER IV. 

“For most men (till by losing render’d sager) 

Wil Iback their own opinions with a wager.”— Ryron. 

The next morning at breakfast Desbrough says : 

Ed, I am told that you represented ^ Patience on 
a monument ^ very nicely last night.^^ 

“Or,” Horton suggests, “a monument on pa- 
tience.” 

But Angel scorns to notice either, till Wade re- 
marks that “ if some one could have photographed 
Ed’s features and brought out the look of determi- 
nation' and resolve depicted there, and then have 
sent the photo to Ed’s house, it would have been the 
means of raising his salary at least $600,” and then 
Ed savagely retorts : 

“Yes, and if some one would send Desbrough’s 
picture while he is at some of his tricks to his 
house, he wouldn’t hold his job ten minutes.” 

At this the boj^s turn the laugh on Desbrough, 
who joins with them and then replies: 

“Well, Ed, I intended to come back and finish 
that trick last night, but something told me, ^ Don’t 
attempt it; Ed Angel is sitting on them and will 
absorb them, while you will suffer ignominious de- 
feat,’ and so I sought safety in flight.” 

3 


34 


AKGELS OF OOMMEBOF. 


^'Yes/^ Powell chips in, "Pve seen Desbrough 
perform that trick before, and he always seeks 
safety in flight/'’ 

Just here the ladies enter and proceed, sarcasti- 
cally, to congratulate Desbrough on his wonderful 
(?) power as a mind-reader, and the chaffing becomes 
general. 

Desbrough explains that he is more of a mind- 
reader than they have any idea of, and offers to 
wager ice-cream for the crowd that he can tell any 
one of them what is passing through his mind, and 
Angel jumps to his feet, excitedly exclaiming that 
he will take that beV^ but Desbrough says quietly : 

"Keep your seat, Ed; the show isbt half out yet. 
Wait till we have finished breakfast.” 

And as soon as the meal is through they all as- 
semble at the office of the hotel, to witness, as Des- 
brough remarks, " the power of mind over matter.” 

McLeod, Powell, and Horton are appointed as 
referees. Angel is seated in a chair and he is then 
requested to place his hands on Desbrough's shoul- 
ders and look him straight in the eyes. Then mak- 
ing several passes before his face, Desbrough says: 
" Now, the bet is that I cannot tell you what you 
are thinking about,” and Angel replying in the 
affirmative, Desbrough continues: " ThaPs an easy 
one. You are thinking that I cannot tell you what 
you are thinking about,” and then a loud guffaw 
emanates from McLeod, the crowd yell in derision. 


A]sra^:LS of commerce. 


35 


and it is decided that Ed has lost and he unwilling’ly 
admits that Desbrough was right, but adds that 
‘"he ought to be suppressed for ringing an old 
chestnut of this kind on an intelligent people,” and 
adds : “ Hereafter Td rather not be the victim of any 
such demonstration.” 

Desbrough is compelled to admit that this last 
trick of his “ was taking unfair advantage of an un- 
suspecting subject,” and as he was betting on a sure 
thing requests that “the judges be lenient to the 
prisoner and reduce the fine from ice-cream to soda 
water,” which meeting with general approval is ac- 
cepted good-naturedly by the victim, who proceeds 
to change the subject by inquiring: 

“ Has any one seen George Barnett this trip ? ” 

“Yes,” answered McLeod; “he went up to Nash- 
ville day before yesterday with Harry Alexander, 
and expects to come back this morning.” 

“Which means,” remarks Wade, looking at his 
watch, “ that he will be here in ten minutes.” 

“ril tell you, boys,” chimes in Breedlove. “Let's 
all go over to the train and meet him, and when he 
gets off everybody fall on his neck and weep.” 

“ Who is he ? ” asks Horton. 

“Oh,” replies Powell, “he's a little tin god on 
wheels. Has an oasis on the top of his head, and 
he is travelling through the State for his health 
(and salary), and he's always welcome because he is 
so quiet and unobtrusive, and perfectly willing to 


36 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


let others do all the talking (when he is asleep), and 
he never drinks unless he is alone — or with some- 
body.^’ 

" Oh, yes, I think I should recognize him anywhere 
from your description,” answers Horton, and am 
in with the crowd to go and meet him.” 

Here Angel puts in: "Yes, he and Deshrough are 
pretty much alike, onl}^ Deshrough don’t even stop 
talking when he is asleep.” 

" And,” adds Harmon, " when it comes to drink- 
ing, he never waits to inquire whether he is alone 
or with somebody, but just drinks” 

" Et tu. Brute,” Deshrough retorts. " That’s not 
only untrue, but unkind, but under the circumstances 
I’ll forgive 3mu.” 

And then they go chattering and giggling like a 
parcel of schoolgirls toward the depot, but meet 
Barnett and Alexander before half the distance is 
passed, the Nashville train having mistaken the 
schedule and rolled in on time. 

" Well, I’ll be ' dad binged,’ ” shouts Barnett as the 
crowd fairly swarm over him and his companion. 
" Whar’s all you drummers going at ?” 

To which Angel replies : “ I’m going to try and 
discover where Deshrough intends starting for, and 
then take flight in the opposite direction.” 

" Why,” says Barnett, " I thought you were 
^ sticked ’ on Deshrough.” 

"Oh, yes, Deshrough sticks me, so I suppose I 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


37 


am slicked on him ; nevertheless he is too flip for 
me.” 

^^Ed,” responds Barnett solemnly", “flip is vulg*ar; 
you should say floop” 

Whereupon they all laugh and Ed inquires: “Did 
any one come with you, boys ? ” 

“No, only Harry Keck. He went down-town, hut 
will be here to dinner, and then we are all going to 
Prescott at two o^clock. Say, how many of you are 
going our way ? ” 

“ Tom McLeod for one,” replies Desbrough, “ and 
possibly George Powell, though he has partiall^^ 
promised to go to Nashville with Horton and me.” 

“ Oh, say, boys, let Nashville go. IPs deader than 
a shot-tower. Come on with us to Prescott and we 
will have a regular pow-wow,” says Alexander. 

“Now don’t get gay! Harry, my house wants 
me to skip around but not skip towns,” Desbrough 
says. 

Here Powell suggests that “ it will take two days 
and twice as many dollars to make Nashville and 
back,” and seeing that Horton too is rather in favor 
of letting that town go, Desbrough gives wa^q say- 
ing: “Well, the majority seems to rule me out and 
we go to Prescott.” 

In the mean time they have gradually approached 
the hotel, and now they enter and go direct to the 
parlor and the piano, for Barnett is something of a 
singer himself. 


38 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


Georg-e/^ Desbroug-h inquires, " what kind of a 
trade did you have in Nashville ? ” 

Oh ” — laconically — “ I g“ot in one car/^ 

""What! You don’t mean to say you sold a car- 
load of paper in that town and then let any one in- 
timate that the town is dead, do you ?” 

""Oh, no! I got in passenger car to come down 
here.” 

"" Good ! ” fairly shouts Angel. "" I am glad Des- 
brough has met some one who can pay him back in 
his own coin.” 

""Yes, that’s a "horse on me,’ as the fellow said in 
the runaway when the horse fell on him. I didn’t 
get in any car, but I did come mighty near selling 
a big bill of drugs here,” replies Desbrough. 

"" How near ? ” inquires Barnett. 

"" I asked Arthur Gibson if he wanted a big bill 
and he said no. If he had said yes, I’d have sold 
him.” 

""Horse and horse,” says McLeod. ""Boys, sing 
something.” 

They sing and laugh and jest, as drummers will 
wherever they do congregate. Then later on they 
take the town by storm, and work with the zest and 
zeal that crowns their lives with victory and makes 
them welcome guests as well as business men. 

After dinner they separate to go their several 
ways, the major portion taking train for Prescott. 

It is only sixteen miles to Prescott^ and the half- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


39 


hour in transit is occupied in general conversa- 
tion. 

“ Desbrough, did we go to Prescott when I was 
with you last spring ? ” 

think not, Chess. We discussed the subject, 
I remember, and concluded to leave it out.” 

" How much of a place is it ? ” 

About 1,500.” 

What is there in a town of 1,500 to recommend 
it to so many drummers ? ” 

Well, there are several things. It is on the 
direct line of one of the best trunk line railroads in 
Arkansas, is a good business town, and above all 
has a good hotel.” 

"Yes,” says Barnett, "there are larger places in 
the State of Arkansas than Prescott — cities that 
have more electric lights and policemen; there are 
also a few smaller towns that take up just as much 
space on the map and have quite as many town lots 
to sell; but it is a mooted question if one could travel 
the State over and discover another locality that is 
as popular with the travelling fraternity, or where 
its hotel serves roast goose and apple sauce three 
times a week to its guests.” 

" There is something about roast goose and apple 
sauce,” says Alexander, "that catches the nostril of 
the average commercial tourist — and leads him by 
it, too, into the very presence of the bird itself.” 

" And,” adds Keck, " there are few men upon the 


40 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


road who can resist the impulse to make an abiding- 
place right there.” 

"^ril tell you,” says Powell, “the melodies of 
Mother Goose never affected me half so deeply in 
childhood as the ‘ smell of de mother goose " does in 
manhood.” 

“ That is true,” responds Desbrough meditatively, 
“ and there is another thing I have frequently noticed, 
a person will sarcastically say to you, ^ DonT be a 
goose,^ when the fact is he would have more respect 
for you if you were one — roasted, with apple sauce.” 

“ I hope this is goose day,” McLeod now remarks, 
“ for your conversation makes me hungry.” 

And when the train pulls into Prescott ever^^ 
drummer on board gets his baggage together and 
fervently hopes that he has reached goosedom. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


41 


CHAPTER V. 

•*- 

“Whatsoever thing thou doest 
To the least of mine and lowest 
That thou doest unto Legend Beautiful. 

“ The play’s the thing.’’'— Shakespeare. 

Fo^ de Lawd^s sake, Mis" Winters, if yere ain’t 
free of de worstest drummers on de road. Dey raises 
Cain eberj^ time dey cums inter dis yere house, and 
now dey is bringin" about a dozen mo" wid "em."" 

And it does look that way, for Powell, Barnett, 
and Hesbrough have come from the South, bringing* 
with them Horton, Keck, McLeod, and Alexander. 

The train from the North is half an hour late, so 
instead of passing the up train at Hope, as is usual, 
it has met it here in Prescott and another half-dozen 
have alighted from it, of whom a very brief descrip- 
tion is necessary", as after-events will prove. 

Dick Neal, a coffin drummer, who, like his com- 
petitor, Lon Smith, weighs not less than 250 pounds, 
and who, like him, is a rollicking, jovial fellow, leads 
the van. One would think that so weighty an in- 
dividual would be ungainly in his movements, but, 
strange to say, he is really rather graceful than 
otherwise and has none of the waddle noticeable in 
most fleshy people. 

Captain O’Day, tall, broad-shouldered, with heavy 


42 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


black whiskers that reach half-way to his waist, 
has a slight impediment in his speech that some 
might designate as stammering, but which is really 
only a hesitation on the part of the tongue to act 
with the brain. There is this peculiarity about his 
conversation, that it is only when he is excited that 
you notice his halting over a difficult consonant. 

Usually he will converse as smoothly as any one, 
but on the slightest notice will wander off into a 
tangled undergrowth of words that is painful to 
listen to. He has a good voice for singing and is a 
prime favorite with all drummers, for he is quick at 
repartee and a good story-teller. 

Colonel Kealhofer, well known to fame, who is 
not less tall than the captain, standing six feet in 
his number eights. Many years of service on the 
road have entitled him to the rank of colonel, and 
yet he is not an old man by any means, but simply 
passed through and far beyond the period known 
as fresh, 

John Bowers, a man of small stature, one of those 
roly-poly individuals who are forever in a broad 
grin and giggle— always laughing at anything that 
passes, seeing only the funny side of life. Where 
others would* weep John Bowers would laugh, and 
though he might have to smile through tears, would 
still smile and appear happy. He is a great mimic, 
and can talk the negro dialect as fluently as any 
colored individual who has known no other tongue. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


43 


Jeff Lamar is very much the same sort of person- 
age as Bowers, and the two together make a team 
that keeps the vicinity where they congregate ” in 
a perpetual flutter. 

Following in their wake are three young drum- 
mers of more or less experience on the road — John 
Blakemore, Sid Able, and Will Rutland — any one of 
whom would walk a mile to see a foot-race or game 
of base-ball, and twice that distance to play some 
practical joke upon his neighbor. They aspire to 
be good fellows and are good fellows. It is just 
such as these that drive away the blues from many 
a weary merchants desk and cause dull care to flee 
before the exuberance of their younger natures. 

As this small army of drummers approaches the 
hotel, old Aunt '’Liza is discovered at her post (from 
which she had announced their coming to Mrs. Win- 
ters), and Bowers, who by this time has somehow 
gotten in the lead, exclaims : 

" Lor bress my soul, if yere ainT Aunt ^Liza ! Jes^ 

wait twell I gets my rabbit^s foot and But she 

flees from the wrath to come, afraid that she will be 

hoodooed sure if touched by the foot that was 
garnered in the dead of night from the left hind leg 
of a rabbit while it was passing through the village 
churchyard during the waning of the moon. And 
’Liza fights shy of Bowers during the rest of the 
stay in Prescott. 

The porter coming by shortly afterward is crossed 


44 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


with the rahbit^s foot by Bowers, but failing to re- 
spond by giving a series of shrieks and shudders, is 
questioned as to whether he fears the dreaded paw, 
and proceeds to break the crowd all up by respond- 
ing : Naw, I isn’t afraid of his or maw neither.” 

The boys find still two more drummers at the 
Winters house — Joe Edrington and Ed Osborne — 
and as Neal says, '^The command is now complete, 
and when in marching order will make one of the 
finest turn-outs ever seen in the place.” 

Mrs. Winters (wife of the proprietor of the hotel) 
has by this time made her appearance, having been 
summoned by ’Liza’s first call, and Barnett sings 
out: Mrs. Winters, do we get cold roast goose 

for supper to-night ? ” 

I am afraid not, for we didn’t have ivarm roast 
goose for dinner; but if you are here to-morrow you 
shall have it to your hearts’ content.” 

At this a groan surges up from many throats, and 
McLeod says regretfully, Oh, my ! and I was so 
goose hungry.” 

Mrs. Winters is a motherly soul and has a warm 
place in her heart for all drummers. She looks 
upon them almost as sons (indeed, many of them 
who have known her for years familiarly call her 
ma), and now she seems to feel more badly than the 
boys to think that she has no roast goose to serve; 
but Colonel Kealhofer comes to her rescue and asserts 
that we will all be better pleased Avith roast goose 


AT^GELS OF COMMERCE. 


45 


for to-morrow’s dinner than we would have been 
to-nig-ht, for it would have been impossible for Mrs. 
Winters to have foreseen such an avalanche of 
drummers and could not possibly have served full 
rations or anything like it, and we would have had 
our appetites only whetted in consequence.” 

“Well,” says Powell, “if I am compelled to whet 
my appetite for a whole daj’^, I shall certainly make 
a goose of myself over eating.” 

“ Goose eat goose,” sagely remarks Horton. 

“ Boys,” says Lamar, “ if you will let the goose 
question drop and all go and attend to business, I 
will present every one at supper to-night with a 
real goose — quill tooth-pick.” 

Groans and jeers follow this sally, but the re- 
minder of business tends to scatter the crowd in 
that direction. 

At supper some one remarks : “ Three weeks from 
next Thursda^T- will be Thanksgiving.” 

“ Or,” Heal replies, “four weeks from yesterday. 
It’s a long way off yet.” 

“ Hot far enough away to give me time to got 
home,” says Horton. “ I am 3,000 miles away.” 

“Where do you expect to eat your Thanksgiving 
turkey ? ” Edrington asks. 

“ I shall take Horton home with me,” Desbrough 
replies decidedly, “ for Mrs. Horton is in Europe and 
he has no place in particular to go. I think we will 
just about get to Memphis by that time.” 


46 


ANGELS OE COMMEECE. 


You are fortunate in being* in a territory where 
it is possible to run home at such times/^ says Keck. 
" How many of us are to go home ? ” 

A canvass of those present develops the fact 
that only four or five out of the eighteen or twenty 
assembled will dine at home, but the most have 
arranged to run to some convenient point where 
the hotel accommodations are good and trust to 
Providence in giving them something to be thank- 
ful for. 

At this point Powell and Captain O’Day enter, 
having returned from town, where they have been 
delayed talking business, and Powell, who is not at 
all given to religious refiections, exclaims : Speak- 
ing of Thanksgiving, I don’t think any of us half ap- 
preciate our mercies.” 

At this the company looks up in surprise. 

Hello ! what’s the matter with Powell ? ” ques- 
tions Blakemore. Has the desire for goose turned 
his brain ? ” 

" Possibly it is because he got the goose-egg down- 
town,” suggests Lamar, who also sells crackers and 
considers this crack ” permissible. 

"" I know I am no better than I ought to be,” con- 
tinues Powell, unheeding the thrusts made at him, 

but Captain O’Day and I have just come from the 
post-office, where we heard the story of a widow that 
has broken me all up.” 

" Oh, that is it, is it ? ” questions Edrington. " It 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


47 


is not the first time youVe been broken up by the 
story of a widow, is it ? ” 

Usually Powell would have retorted to a sally of 
this kind, but he is in earnest now and says as he 
seats himself at table : 

A widow with five children.” 

ThaPs still worse,” puts in Rutland. George 
can^t support himself, to say nothing of a widow and 
five children.” 

But Powell, utterly oblivious of sarcasm, con- 
tinues : 

" Her eldest son was killed a few weeks ago while 
hunting.” 

^^One got killed and then there were four,” Bar- 
nett says, referring to his Mother Goose Melodies.” 

The other children are too small to help earn a 
living, and the mother sick and helpless and all but 
starving. I tell ^mu, boys, you can make all the fun 
you choose, but it is anything but funny to me,” 

" Why donT she apply to the city authorities ? ” 
questions Able. 

For the same reason that you would not seek a 
city hospital if you were sick — she is too proud, or 
perhaps I should say sensitive.” 

Well, why donT the authorities seek her, then ?” 
asks Keck. 

"Authorities are not given to seeking after the 
poor; besides, they never discovered her condition 
till to-day.^^ 


48 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


Five dollars apiece from sug’g’ests Neal, 

would keep the wolf from her door a long* time.^^ 

“Yes,” says Osborne, “and carry with it such 
direct charity that it would wound her sensitive na- 
ture more than we have any idea of. We ought to 
be able to do something* for her without parading 
the fact in so conspicuous a manner.” 

“ Besides, some of us are unable to donate in this 
way,” Blakemore adds. 

“ It would not be parading at all,” says Colonel 
Kealhofer. “ She need never know where the money 
comes from. Still it seems to me, as Blakemore 
suggests, that it would be very inconvenient for 
some to donate so liberally, though in a case of this 
kind we could afford to be inconvenienced. Can’t 
we accomplish just as much good and be of as much 
help without feeling the act of charity so much our- 
selves ? ” 

“ What would you suggest ? ” asks Bowers. 

“ I hardly know.” 

“ I am willing to do anything within my power,” 
says Desbrough, “but as for money, I haven’t 
enough just at present to carry me across a free 
bridge. However, I reckon I can negotiate a loan 
from some one in this crowd, and am in for anything 
the boys decide upon.” 

“ Why not buy a lot of provisions and fuel and 
send to her anonymously ? ” suggests Horton. 

“Can’t we do something that won’t have so 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


49 


much the appearance of a direct gift?^^ Rutland 
inquires. 

I have it,” exclaims Barnett. 

" What ? ” asks Able. 

An idea.” 

" Let^s take it to town and sell it,” suggests Os- 
borne, and give the proceeds to the widow.” 

" Boys, this is no laughing matter,” says Colonel 
Kealhofer. Let^s have Barnettes idea.” 

Why,” says George, who is considerable of an 
actor, having once belonged to a real road com- 
pany, let^s get up a play, the proceeds to be de- 
voted to a charitable object, and then present it to 
the widow.” 

" What — the play ? ” asks Lamar. 

^^No, the proceeds.” 

^^Well, g-gentlemen, p-proceed,” says Captain 
O’Day. 

Well, we can’t do it,” says Neal. Out of fif- 
teen or twenty men here there is not a half-dozen 
that could draw an audience or keep it together after 
it had assembled.” 

“ I am not so sure of that,” remarks Desbrough. 

am half inclined to think Barnett’s idea- a good 
one. We wouldn’t be expected to do any brilliant 
acting, and the more blunders committed the more 
fun for the outsiders.” 

" I’ll tell you,” says Bowers, "" there are some good 
singers among this party, and they could certainly 
4 


50 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


give satisfaction and an entertainment well worth 
hearing.” 

^^That^s more than you can do, John,” replies La- 
mar. (Which is true, for John couldn^t sing the 
simplest melody without ‘^giving one the cramps.”) 

That’s true,” says McLeod and adds : I heard 
Bowers try to sing in the hotel main parlor at Fort 
Smith once, and when he had finished he turned 
around to receive the plaudits of the company and 
was amazed to find that not only had the people all 
left, but even the fire had gone out.” 

We will have Bowers sing a song after the plaj^ 
to clear the house,” says Edrington. 

^^No need of that,” retorts Bowers. ‘^If you take 
part in the play, the house will be as empty as the 
play long before the end.” 

"We haven’t heard from Alexander yet,” says 
Able. "What do jmu sa3^, Harry ?” 

" I could dance,” replies Harry, whose whole soul 
is in his heels when there is music. 

" Gentlemen,” continues Alexander, who has hith- 
erto taken but little part in the conversation, "it is 
all very well to talk about getting up a play, but it 
seems to me there are several very serious questions 
to be considered, viz. : When will this great play be 
presented ? Where and what will you pla^^ ? ” 

" I have thought of all this,” replies Barnett, " and 
c;in answer all but the last. This is Friday, and we 
can hustle through our business this evening and 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


51 


to-morrow morning, and in the mean time work up 
'A Grand Benefit Entertainments Perhaps not 
grand in reality, but at least so on the bills, and 
there is a big hall in town that we can hire for lit- 
tle or nothihg, and certainly, with all this talent, 
can arrange appropriate scenes and scenery by to- 
morrow night.” 

Well,” says Neal, we can’t get to another place 
in time to do much business anyhow this week, for 
we couldn’t leave before to-morrow noon, and I don’t 
know but ril have to give in and consent to help- 
ing the rest make fools of themselves.” 

G-gentlemen, c-count me in,” says Captain 
O’Day. 

I think you may count us all in,” says Colonel 
Kealhofer. The only question to my mind is, how 
are we going to accomplish so much in so short a 
period of time ? Rome was not built in a day.” 

"No,” retorts Barnett, "nor Prescott either, 
though it might have been. We are not discussing 
the possibility of building a town, but simply the 
best method of holding it by the ears until we can 
look into its financial condition.” 

" Granted that you have the time and the ability 
to get the town out to some lonely hall, how will 
you succeed in holding it by the ears while we are 
pouring into them the scintillations of our worn-out 
funny little brains ? ” asks McLeod. 

" Now this is unkind, Tom, and savors of an ice- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


cold bath for a worthy object. Why cannot we (like 
the Salisbury Troubadours did when thej^ first 
started) improvise some amusement for a fun-lov- 
ing community and not only do ourselves credit, 
but get the people interested in the object, which is 
really the incentive that leads us on.^^ 

‘‘You think, then, that we can march on to the 
stage, and under cover of charity fire off a few old 
gags at each other and the audience and retire amid 
tumultuous applause ? 

“I think nothing of the kind; but what is to hin- 
der us from giving, say, a rehearsal from drummer 
life ? Have a few solos, trios, and quartettes rendered 
and possibly have some one deliver a short speech 
— or several of us, for that matter. There are plenty 
of things that will come to our minds when we really 
get started in the work.” 

“Tve got the very thing,” exclaims Bowers. 
“ There is one play we have all seen until we have 
it by heart, and it always draws immensely: ‘Un- 
cle Tom’s Cabin.’ Te ! he ! ” 

A general laugh is the result of this outburst, but 
Colonel Kealhofer remarks gravely : 

“ I am inclined to think that there is some sense 
in Bowers’s suggestion after all. As he says, we are 
all of us familiar with the play, and with what could 
be improvised and introduced, there is no reason 
why it should not make a hit.” 

“I don’t know but you are right, colonel,” re- 


Al^GELS OF COMMEKCE. 


53 


spends Barnett. It is not necessary to follow the 
text and by having the characters assumed by such 
talent as we can select from this brilliant assem- 
blage — with a low bow and wave of the hand — and 

letting them Thanks, friend, for the beautiful 

bouquet^' — this in response to a bunch of celery 
thrown to him — ^^and, as I was saying, letting 
them play their parts according to their own ideas 
and language, would be certainly ridiculous if not 
correct, and I believe would cause more real amuse- 
ment than anything we could improvise.” 

“ I am under the impression that ^ Uncle Tom’s 
Cabin ’ is so worn out that you could never get an 
audience out to see it at all,” says Lamar. 

I do not agree with you. It has been on the 
boards for ages, it is true, but has always drawn 
big houses. There were twenty-six companies on 
the road last year, each claiming to be the only and 
original ^ Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ troupe, and all play- 
ing to crowded houses.” 

"^At least,” says Horton,"" this "Uncle Tom’s Cabin ’ 
would have the seal of originality upon it, for none 
of us knows the lines well enough to play more than 
a very small portion, and the rest would have to bo 
wholly improvised.” 

"" I’ll tell you what,” says Keck, "" I move that we 
appoint a committee to decide on the whole business, 
and whatever they conclude is best we will all stand 
by till the curtain falls.” 


54 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


This meeting* with general approval, a committee is 
forthwith chosen, consisting of Barnett, Powell, Hor- 
ton, Keck, Heal, and Deshrough, who are to arrange 
all necessary plans, form sub-committees, and after 
business is over for the night submit their plans 
and specifications to the boys, who will at that time 
assemble in the parlor. 

They do assemble later on ahd have a rousing 
meeting. 

Suggestions are freely made — some accepted and 
many rejected — and Barnett, who is chairman of 
the committee, finally submits his report as follows: 

“We, the undersigned members of committee ap- 
pointed b}^ the drummers here assembled, have de- 
cided that the play to be presented to the people of 
Prescott Saturday night shall be that known as 
^ Uncle Tom’s Cabin,’ and in order to facilitate work 
and assure success we have appointed the following 
sub -committees : 

“ To engage hall, attend to its proper ventilation, 
and place it in order — Captain O’Day, Jeff. Lamar, 
and Joe Edrington. 

“ To post town, attending to advertising contracts, 
etc.— Harry Alexander, Sid Able, and John Blake- 
more. 

“To arrange programmes and costumes for 
entertainment— Ed Osborne, John Bowers, and 
Colonel Kealhofer. 


AjSTGELS of commerce. 


“ Treasurer — W ill Rutland. 

“ The committee now on duty will attend to all 
incidentals and work with the rest as their services 
may he required.” 

After this report has been received the several 
committees g-o to work in earnest (for time is short 
and going fast), and before retiring for the night 
they must have their plans well formed for the com- 
ing event. 

Lon Smith arrives from the South on the ten p.m. 
train, and from the North there come two messen- 
gers that are received with great cordiality — Char- 
lie Kenney and Cham Norfleet. 

“ It does my old eyes good to see you, boys,” cries 
Desbrough. Charlie, you are more than welcome; 
and Cham — wh^^, how on earth did you ever come 
to alight in Prescott ? I thought you never came 
so far south.” 

^‘1 don’t usually, but am here on special busi- 
ness for the house. I declare, I never expected 
to And so many of you here. Nothing political, I 
liope ? ” 

'^No. We are holding a meeting in order to dis- 
cuss the advisability of going into the theatrical 
business.” And Desbrough explains in detail the 
work as far as accomplished, and adds, You will 
join us, of course ?” x 

^‘^Join you! Why, certainly. How could we do 


56 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE, 


otherwise?’^ replies Norfleet, and they are soon 
placed upon (jommittees and eng’aged heart and soul 
in the work. 

“ Boys, what are you going to do for music ? sud- 
denly inquires Kenney. 

Everyhod^^ stops what special work he may have 
in hand for the moment and looks at his neighbor 
inquiringly; for in forming their plans the music 
question has never once been thought of. 

Finall}^ Barnett says despondingly : I fear our 
play is done for. What can we do ? ” 

" Hire an orchestra, of course,^" says Smith, who 
seems to think the solution of the question an easy 
one. 

Yes, and if the town had one they wouldn^t know 
any more what to play and when to plaj^ it than I 
would,^^ says Bowers. 

" Why don^t you have Deshrough play the piano ? 
questions Norfleet. ''He can play anything and 
would understand what to do far better than any 
orchestra.^^ 

"Yes,” Deshrough replies, " I reckon I can play 
the piano as well as the rest of you can ' Uncle Tom's 
Cabin,' but I prefer to do something more heroic, 
like feeding the bloodhounds with raw beef after the 
performance, for instance.'' 

" If you should attempt the rendition of some of 
your own compositions,'' Kenney remarks, " the au- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


57 


dience will be pretty apt to feed you to the blood- 
hounds.” 

'^And you too, Brutus?” responds Desbrough, 
glancing reproachfully at Kenney, and after all 
my kindness to you ? ” 

am in earnest,” says Norfleet. ‘^^Desbrough 
is just the one for the place. It will save the ex- 
pense of hiring an orchestra ” 

^‘Oh, that is your idea, is it?” interrupts Des- 
brough with a reproving look. “ You wish to toler- 
ate my service because it is free, do you ? ” 

« Why, no, but we value it all the more highly on 
that account, and besides, we want everything in 
the entertainment strictly the drummers^ own handi- 
work.” 

"Well, the hand I work for the entertainment 
shall be strictly the drummer’s,” replied Desbrough; 
" but really, boys, I fear I shall be able to give only 
a very ordinary service in the way of orchestral 
Wagner ism.” 

The idea seems to take with the rest, however, 
and Desbrough is pressed into service as the Thomas 
Orchestra for the occasion, and this being settled, 
the committees proceed to assign the different char- 
acters. 

Next morning they are up bright and early and 
by ten o’clock have the town literally flooded with 
posters announcing that 


58 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 

A GRAND CHARITY BENEFIT ENTERTAINMENT 

WILL BE GIVEN AT THE 

TOWN HALL, PRESCOTT, 

On Saturday Nigtit, November 1st, 

At which time the following Eminent Artists, or their proxies, will certainly 
appear in the Ravishingly Bewitching and Thrilling Extravaganza, entitled 

UNCLE TOM’S CABIN, 

Rewritten and Revised by Uncle Tom himself. 

A NEW DEPARTURE. 

We use the same old scenery, but bring the lights and music with us. 

PROXY. 


UNCLE TOM, 

. George Wilson, 


. . John Bowers. 

GEORGE HARRIS, . 

. Latvrence Barrett, 


Jeff IjAmar. 

GEORGE SHELBY, . 

Neil Burgess, 


Harry Keck. 

ST. CLAIRE, 

. Thas. Keene, 


. Harry Alexander. 

PHINEAS FLETCHER, 

1 Bai-ron and j 


Col. Kealhofer. 

GUMPTION CUTE, 

) Faij, 1 


C. W. Kenney. 

DEACON PERRY, . 

. Jos. Jefferson , 


. Cherleigh Horton. 

Le GREE, . 

Ediuin Booth, 

. * 

Joe Edrington. 

MARKS, 

. Roland Reed, 


. . Geo. Powell. 

HALEY, 

. Milton Nobles, 


. Will Rutland. 

SAMBO, 

. Chns. C. Davis, 

• 

Ed Osborne. 

HARRY (a child). 

. Lizzie Evans, 


Sid Able. 

EVA, .... 

. Kate Claxton, 


Capt. O’Day. 

ELIZA, 

. Mary Anderson, 


. Geo. Barnett. 

CASSY, . . 

. Clara Morris, 


Tom McLeod. 

MARIE, 

. Mme. Rhea, 


Lon Smith. 

OPHELIA, . 

. Fanny Davenport, 


. John ^ Bl akemore. 

CHLOE, 

. Modjeska, . 

• 

. Cham Norfleet. 

TOPSY, . Mnie. Neilson (with Songs and Dance), Dick Neal. 


Siberian Bloodhounds, imported direct from Hot Springs, Ark., and 
Oshkosh, Wis. 

The orchestra will be (in the absence of Theodore Thomas) presided over 
by George Desbrough, whose repertoire of waltzes has become familiar all 
over the State of Arkansas, having been played in the different towns and 
cities for the past five years, whenever the loan of a piano could be securecl 
for the jnirpose. 

In order to obviate as far as possible the usual rush for cloves during 
intermissions, a bar has been erected near the stage, wiiere, by signifying 
their desires by raising of hands, the audience will be accommodated with- 
out retii-ing from their seats. 

One finger will indicate . . . Cloves only. 

Two fingers “ ... Lemonade. 

Three “ “ ... Ginger pop. 

Anything stronger than cloves will not be served at (he bar. 

Inciclent to the several acts there will be duets, trios, and quartettes 
rendered by the Company. 


AKGELS OP COMMEKCE. 


59 


CHAPTER VI. 

“ All the world’s a stage 

And all the men and women merely players.”— S'/iafcespeare. 

It is astonishing- with what rapidity an item of 
news will sometimes travel. 

No sooner apparently are the notices of the com- 
ing benefit distributed about the town, than the 
country for miles around seems to be aware of all 
the circumstances attending it. 

Most of the names given as proxies on the list are 
well known, and by supper-time it is an assured fact 
that the hall will not be large enough to accommo- 
date the audience. 

The price of admission has been placed at the 
nominal figure of fifty cents, which is considered as 
being rather high (for a small town) bj^ those inter- 
ested in the affair, but it is evident that the people 
are not to be kept away on account of price. 

The boys are in the finest of spirits, for nearly all 
the tickets have been disposed of. 

There is nothing that will elevate ’’ even the best 
of actors like a well-filled house, and for amateurs 
it is the acme of anticipation. 

An early supper has been prepared in order that 


60 


AIS-GELS OF COMMERCE. 


the boys may have sufficient time to assort their 
garments and don them. 

There is an endless array, for Mrs. Winters and 
her three daughters have entered heart and soul 
into the good work, and where their own wardrobe 
has failed to meet the demand their neighbors^ clos- 
ets, chests, and trunks have been levied upon. 

Their suggestions have proven invaluable, and in- 
deed it is only through their indefatigable efforts 
that the boys are enabled, later on, to appear in the 
bewildering costumes that bring such plaudits from 
an appreciative public. 

If the witticisms and repartee that pass at Jbhe 
evening meal be any indication, then of a surety 
will the play be entertaining; but they are too ex- 
cited to eat much, and long before the time for the 
hall to be thrown open, hurry away to their dress- 
ing*room. 

Possibly the greatest amount of amusement to the 
boys is furnished in selecting costumes for the dif- 
ferent characters. 

^^Eva should undoubtedly be dressed in white” 
says Kenney, who has been appointed chief cos- 
tumer, and Captain O’Day is arrayed in a gown that 
brings tears to eyes unaccustomed to weep. 

His long black whiskers give him the appearance 
of the bearded woman in the museum, and when a 
straw hat with its long white feathers and stream- 
ers is placed jauntily upon his head, it is a question 


AI^GELS OF COMMERCE. 


61 


if the angels do not join the drummers in their 
weep. 

Ophelia Blakemore wears, for once in her life, a 
robe that vies with the rainbow in its colors, and a 
hat that has been made up for the occasion by the 
young ladies. 

It is generally conceded that the proper thing for 
a character of this kind is a huge bonnet of the poke 
order, trimmed with a profusion of (artificial) fiow- 
ers and ribbons; but one of the fads of this troupe 
is original designs, so Ophelia is rigged with a 
Gainesborough hat so broad and fiaring that she 
can scarcely get through a door without cocking 
her head sideways, like a goose looking for a thun- 
der-storm. 

Her dress is a plaid silk of many hues, borrowed 
from a buxom old lady living near. 

“What will we do for Norfleet in his character of 
Chloe ? ” some one inquires. 

“ Why, black him up and let him wear a smile, 
and 

“There! that will do,” says Norfleet. 

“Hardly, I should think,” says Desbrough; “at 
least add an ulster.” 

“Where is that riding-habit Mrs. Winters bor- 
rowed to-day ? ” asks Barnett. 

“Just the thing,” says Norfleet, and they dress 
him in the tailor-made habit and give him a mourn- 
ing bonnet and a large feather fan — which latter 


62 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


he persists in carrying throughout the play and 
using on all possible occasions. 

“ It is a better outfit than most Chloes possess/^ 
remarks Bowers, ‘^but a white man is just as good 
as a nigger as long as he behaves himself, and 
Norfleet is entitled to something above the aver- 
age.^’ 

Barnett as Eliza wears a black velvet skirt, white 
and black check hosiery, and a porous red jerse3^ 
The outfit is supplemented by a green sun-bonnet, 
which the lady in question afterward carries in her 
hand throughout the play, twirling it by the strings. 
As she is considerably bald-headed, it naturally 
produces a dazzling effect. 

Her husband, George Harris (Lamar), wears a 
modern business suit, while St. Clair (Alexander) 
has his trousers rolled up to the knees and wears 
the latest thing in hose, pieced out with sleeves of 
an old undershirt, and adds to this a flannel shirt 
and coat and a white plug hat. 

While all this has been going on. Uncle Tom has 
rigged himself in a tight-fitting bathing-suit, with 
long scarlet stockings. 

Big knobs are on his shins, which he claims are 
the result of frequent kicks from his old massa. 

Boxing-gloves, low-quarter shoes, and a fur cap 
complete his make-up, though his face and hands 
are covered with long strips and small squares of 
court-plaster placed artistically where they repre- 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


G3 

sent possible fractures and cuts and give him a hide- 
ous aspect. 

"And now Topsy/^ says Kenney, and Neal looms 
up to be arrayed in his first Mother Hubbard. 

There is so much of him, it is a matter of some 
concern as to wJiether there will be enough mate- 
rial to go round, but by using several coffee-sacks 
a robe is made that reaches nearly to his knees, and 
a brilliant stair carpet which Mrs. Winters has do- 
nated is made into a dado that meets the rather 
faded black hosiery. A sailor hat is added to the 
outfit, and altogether a bewildering effect is pro- 
duced, and Powell is led to back up his statement 
that "when he is blacked up his own employer 
would fail to recognize him.^^ 

Joe Edrington’as Le Gree fails to find any high 
top-boots, so ties his trousers around his ankles and 
buttons his shoes over them. He also carries a sword 
and wears a cocked hat, which has been unearthed 
from the bottom of some old trunk, and at the sug- 
gestion of one of the boys carries the top of a wash- 
boiler for a shield, a coffee-pot for a helmet, and has 
somehow found a base-ball mask and body protect- 
or, to which are added a pair of worn-out catchers^ 
gloves. As he is something of a crank on the sub- 
ject of base-ball himself, his costume proves a suc- 
cess. 

A pair of enormous spurs have been furnished for 
Le Gree, but Lon Smith, who takes the part of 


64 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


Marie, appropriates them, and wherever she g-oes 
the spurs keep up such a jingle as to attract the at- 
tention of the audience and keep it in a suppressed 
giggle. 

Of course, being the wife of the wealthy St. Clair, 
she naturally wishes to dress in a becoming manner 
suitable to her rank in life; but being so large, there^ 
cannot be found in the town a dress that will en- 
compass her huge form, so they have to improvise a 
black silk, which is simply a waterproof cloak tied 
at the waist with a red sash, and she looks like a 
Behemoth dressed for parade. 

George Powell as Marks wears a white plug hat, 
tight trousers much too short for him, and a boy^s 
jacket that hardly reaches to the middle of his waist, 
which causes Norfleet to inquire “who he dresses in 
mourning for ? and adds “ I see your trousers and 
coat are hung at half-mast.” 

“I am a creature of circumstances,” responds 
Marks pathetically; “my shoes will give a party 
some day and invite my trousers and coat down.” 

And thus the costuming goes on until the rest of 
the characters are appropriately gotten up in the 
way of dress, and when eight o’clock comes the vil- 
lage hall is crowded from end to end with a mass of 
human beings who are to see and hear for the first 
time the most unique presentation of “ Uncle Tom’s 
Cabin ” that has ever been produced in this or any 
other country. 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


65 


Desbroug-h presides at the piano, the sole mem- 
ber of the orchestra, and tries to look important, 
though he is at a loss as to when music will be ex- 
pected of him (for there has been no rehearsal and 
no one knows exactly what he will do until necessity 
calls upon him to act). 

He is not left long in doubt, however. The pro- 
grammes have promised “ a repertoire of waltzes,” 
and the audience becomes impatient for the orches- 
tra to start up, so a waltz is given, and in response 
to an encore a jig rendered, and the evening per- 
formance begins. 

The scenery has been mostly prepared for the 
occasion. The hall is very wide, and across one end 
a stage has been erected, wings put up, and a couple 
of very plain drop curtains hung. A few stage 
properties and such paraphernalia as the time would 
allow of getting together constitute the stage ef- 
fects. 

In order that the people may better appreciate 
the effect, it is thought best to announce the differ- 
ent scenes orally, and so, whenever the curtain is 
about to rise, Desbrough turns to the audience and 
volunteers the information that '^^this scene will 
represent a dining-room — A snowy landscape — Room 
in a tavern by the riverside — A handsome parlor — 
A garden — A street in New Orleans — An auction 
mart, etc., and then the curtain proceeds to rise 
on the same old blank white wall — no ornamenta- 
5 


66 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


tion of any sort, the plastering* knocked off in spots, 
and the whole scene left to the imagination. 

But the spirit of the assemblage is with the boys 
and applause is unstinted. 

Cheer upon cheer follow everything, whether orig- 
inal or stale, and the excitement is more intense 
than it would be were really artists rendering the 
play. 

In the first scene George Harris Lamar and Eliza 
Barnett enter from opposite wings, and it being 
George Harris’ first appearance on an3^ stage, he 
keeps his eyes upon the audience instead of the ob- 
ject of his affection and runs over her in his attempt 
to meet her gracefully and as if b^^ chance, and Eliza, 
pirouetting to one side to get out of his way, ex- 
claims : 

^^Ah there, Georgie ! Is it you ? ” 

To which George replies : 

" I hardly know, but we’ll say for argument’s sake 
it is. What then ? ” 

‘^Why, do you know, Georgie, they are talking 
of selling both of us and the kid for seven dol- 
lars?” 

This is evidently news to Georgie, for he hasn’t 
seen Uncle Tom” played for many a year and has 
forgotten all about it, but he bravel^^ swallows his 
astonishment and inquires if Eliza don’t think it 
too much.” 

Yes, I do indeed; and what I wanted to say was 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


67 


this — let’s take our little Sidnej^ — I mean Harry — 
and run away.” 

What ! and he eaten up by Siberian bloodhounds, 
as advertised, and perhaps starve to death trying to 
keep out of their way ? S’death ! n-e-v-e-r ! ” 

Eliza hadn’t thought of this evidently, for she hesi- 
tates until the audience becomes impatient for her 
to go ahead and do some more acting, hut finally 
she blubbers out : But think of Canada, Georgie. 
We are reliably informed that our race — as well as 
the bank cashier— is safe there. Oh, flee! fiy!! 
fioop!!!” 

This last overcomes Georgie and he is about to 
acquiesce, when George Shelby Keck and Haley 
Rutland enter at the wrong time, and Eliza quietly 
informs them that if they will wait for a very few 
moments they will be allowed to play their little 
parts without fear of interruption.” By this time 
George Harris Lamar has gone, supposing by the 
entrance of the two just named that he is through 
with his part. Eliza ejaculates, ^‘What! gone so 
soon ? I hardly expected it. I will away.” And 
she too exits. 

In the second scene Eliza comes on the stage try- 
ing to carry her little boy Harry in her arms, but as 
Sid Able, who impersonates this part, is nearly as 
large as Eliza herself, it is with some difficulty that 
she manages to tote him around. She finally de- 
posits him on a saw-horse outside of an imaginary 


(38 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


door to Uncle Tom^s cabin and knocks for admit- 
tance. 

Bowers (who takes the part of Uncle Tom) has 
somehow failed to get in the proper position, and in- 
stead of coming to the door, thrusts his head from 
behind the scenes on the opposite side of the stage 
and ejaculates: 

GVay from dat do’, chile. Don’ you see dan’s 
nobody at home ? ” 

By this time Chloe Norfleet has discovered that it 
is time for her to come on, and consequently emerges 
from the supposed door just in time to hear Uncle 
Tom’s remark, and she fires up and says : " Huh, 
I’se nobody, hey ? See yere, niggah, fust ting yo 
know, yo get a rap ober de head and tink yo teeth 
all dun drapped out.” 

Then Eliza comes to the rescue by striking an 
Ajax-defying-the-lightning attitude and exclaiming : 

Me poor che-ild. Dey dun sold him for two dol- 
lars.” 

Here Sid begins to cry and Eliza says, But come, 
we will escape.” 

At this Uncle Tom bursts into lamentation, ex- 
claiming : 

" Save us or we’ll all escape. Come, Chloe. Git 
yo duds on, fer tank de Lord we’s gwine ter escape.” 

They hastily exit, and the second curtain rising, 
discloses what is intended for the banner represen- 
tation of the evening. 


Al^GELS OF COMMERCE. 


69 


A river filled with floatin^j^ cakes of ice. 

The water is imitated by means of an immense 
sheet of g*reen cambric g*otten up for the occasion 
regardless of expense. The cakes of ice are soap 
boxes covered with light green tarletan, and the 
waves (here is where the finest work of the evening 
comes in) are made by Neal, Smith, O’Day, and Alex- 
ander vigorously waving the corners, while Powell, 
Edrington, Kenney, and Rutland, on all fours be- 
neath, are bobbing up and down in a way that 
threatens to wreck the cakes of ice if Eliza does not 
hasten and step on them and hold them down. 

As the curtain rises, an accident occurs that 
threatens to dispel the illusion. Gassy McLeod, who 
has the curtain in charge, rolls it up with a vigor 
that catches Alexander napping, metaphorically 
speaking, and it also catches one corner of the cam- 
bric, and ere the mistake has been discovered ex- 
poses to view the four who are so industriously 
waving the waves. It is unnecessary to state that 
the curtain falls amid the most tumultuous ap- 
plause, and every appearance of the gentlemen there- 
after excites the audience to renewed cheering. 

The scene is finally gotten into working order 
and the orchestra strikes up ^"Life on the Ocean 
Wave.” 

Hurry up, Eliza,” calles out Lamar. ^‘Are you 
ready to come on ? ” 

Yes, all but my babe. Come along, Sid,” and 


70 


AXGELS OF COM3£ZBCE. 


Eliza seizes Sid bv the hand. " Come, my child, and 
be saved,” she calls as she starts on her perilous 
journey over the soap-box ice-floes and green cam- 
bric billows — which by this time are being lashed 
into a tempest. 

“ Xow let slip the dogs of war,” cries Colonel Eeal- 
hof er. " Bring on the Siberian bloodhounds. Where 
in tarnation are they ?” 

“ Here,” answers Ophelia Blakemore. “ I tied them 
up so I could have them handy,” and Aunt Ophelia 
comes tripping in, dragging a brindle pup after her, 
while Deacon Perry Horton follows with a black- 
and-tan. 

The excitement is intense, for while Eliza sticks 
to the soap-boxes, the child, Sid, will persist in step- 
ping on the waves, and as this was not on the pro- 
gramme it nearly results in quieting the turbulent 
waters. 

Ophelia and Deacon Perry manage, bj’^ pinching 
the tails of the pups, to keep them in a continual 
yelp, and just as Eliza and her child succeed in cross- 
ing the dangerous channel. Uncle Tom comes rush- 
ing, limpingly, on the scene with Chloe Norfleet at 
his heels, and wildly hissing, " Whar is she ? ” This 
calls the attention of the pursuers to them and they 
are immediately captured and marched back home. 
Uncle Tom declaring that " de next time he dun run 
away, he will pizen the dawgs sure ^nuf afore he 
starts.” And the curtain falls amid profound ap- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


71 


plause, while the orchestra once more strikes up with 
'"All on Account of Eliza.” 

Even if it were possible, in a work of this kind, to 
enter into minute details, it would hardly be per- 
missible, neither would it be of interest, so onl^^ the 
principal features of this extraordinary engagement 
are here presented. 

In the second act the stage is supposed to repre- 
sent — as Desbrough announces — "A handsome par- 
lor, with Marie reclining on a sofa.” 

In reality, Lon Smith (who has this character 
and is our own coffin drummer Lon) reclines upon 
an old bench and lazil}^ smirks at the audience. She 
is about to read a postal card when our own little 
Eva O^Day comes skipping in, and shyly approach- 
ing her mother exclaims in a deep bass voice: 
"H-hello, ma.” 

"That will do. Take care, child. You make me 
— tired,” replies her invalid parent. 

At this point St. Clair Alexander, Ophelia Blake- 
more, and Uncle Tom Bowers come trooping in, and 
the trio insist upon kissing Marie, but she half rises 
and waves them off with her big fat hand, while in 
as gruff a voice as Eva’s she inquires : 

! How do you like Prescott 9 ” 

This not only causes the audience to break into a 
roar, but breaks the parties on the stage all up, so 
it is some time before they can go on with their 


72 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


lines, but finally St. Clair Alexander comes to the 
rescue by saying* : 

'^Now, Marie, don’t worry jmur dear head about 
a town where you have no trade. I am really afraid 
you will get one of your head spells.” 

If I get ahead, it will be more than I have been 
able to do all this trip,” savagely retorts Marie. 
^^Say, St. Clair, where did you get that tomala?” 
pointing at Uncle Tom. 

Oh, yes, I had entirely forgotten him, I bought 
him for a foot-ball — I mean footman — for you.” 

How VOS dot for shiftless ? ” interrupts Ophelia 
Blakemore, and Eva says: ‘^A-ask him w-where he 
got him, ma.” 

Our little sunbeam saw him on the ferr^^-boat and 
persuaded me to buy him,” replies St. Clair beam- 
ing on Eva. 

" She always was odd,” declares Marie. 

“ But wait till you hear all” says St. Clair. ^^As 
we neared the landing, the wind blew through our 
little sunbeam’s whiskers and she was precipitated 
into the creek.” 

Oh, what are you giving us ? ” questions Marie. 

'^A man leaped after her,” continues St. Clair, and 
as she rose to the surface of the water, grasped her 
by her whiskers and held her up, so that she could 
step back on the boat. That man I now introduce 
to you for the first time, it being his first appear- 
ance on earth. Mr. Uncle Tom, my wife.” 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


78 


'^Well, well, well, how smoove j^ou’se looking-. 
Yes, Tse de one what rescured dat big floutin^ gal 
of yourn,^’ says Uncle Tom. '' But sho", I doan’ mind 
dat. Say, missus, you hainT seen nothin^ of a big 
yaller gal by de name of Chlpe circumgulatin’ 
^round yere, has yer ? ” 

But St. Clair shuts him off, saying Here, Tom, 
take our little blossom and run along to play,^^ and 
as Tom and Eva disappear arm in arm, Ophelia 
Blakemore once more gets off the only lines that she 
has remembered of the play, How vos dot for shift- 
less?^^ 

^^What do you think of Uncle Tom, Marie?” que- 
ries St. Clair Alexander. 

Oh, he^s all right,” Marie replies. 

He^ll make such a nice plaything for our darling 
rosebud,” continues St. Clair. 

Yes,” Marie says, ^^but do you know, St. Clair, I 
have been thinking that Eva ought to get shaved.” 

How VOS dot for shiftless ? ” Ophelia exclaims, and 
then all eyes — including those of the audience — are 
riveted on the approaching object, advancing from 
the other side. 

“Neal/^ as Topsy, shuffling across the stage, and 
paralyzing everybody b^^ his immensit}^ and the re- 
mark which fairly raises the roof, Golly ! Tse so 
wicked.” As he approaches Marie, she rises to her 
feet and is about to speak, when Topsy says : 

" Golly, we look just like two twins,” and wants 


74 


A^fGELS OF COMMERCE. 


to embrace Marie, but is repulsed, Marie remark- 
ing*, " more like two fools," and attempts to retire, 
but Desbrough strikes the chords for a waltz, Topsy 
catches Marie by the waist and they waltz around 
the stage while St. Clair and Ophelia Blakemore 
seek safety in flight, but as soon as the dancing 
ceases, OpheUa pops her head in at one side and 
again exclaims, " How vos dot for shiftless ? " 

St. Clair returns and ns Ophelia quietly sneaks in 
says, " Cousin, I brought this to you," and points at 
Topsy. 

" Sweet violets, I plucked them and brought them 
tah you," sings out Marie, and then Ophelia says: 

Cousin, help me to drive it down by the river 
side and we^ll push it in” 

But Topsy, who is something of a singer herself, 
sings out, "We parted by de ribber side," dancing 
across the stage as she sings until, catching sight 
of Smith, she giggles, and taking him by the hand 
leads him to the front of the stage and then ad- 
dresses the audience as follows: 

" Ladies and gentlemens, de two Johns will now 
warbl elate," and at a given signal Desbrough again 
starts the music going and a duet is rendered that 
brings down the house. 

As the applause subsides Uncle Tom and Eva 
come back, and Topsy, turning her attention to 
Uncle Tom, greets him with: "Hello, Uncle Ras- 
mus, I’se been lookin^ fer yer." 


ANGELS OF C03OIEECE. 


75 


“ See yere, you bow-legrg-ed old breaker of images, 
my name is not Rasmus. Blame if I see,” he con- 
tinues, “ why it is everybody calls me by dese out- 
landish names. Tell you wat it is, miss, ef you goes 
on callin^ names, youTl get Aunt Chloe after you 
and youTl t^ink you’s got a great future behind you, 
shore ^nuf; tell you dat now fer yere own enlighten- 
ment.” 

" Gone away fum yere, nigger, or I’ll cuff yere 
head up to a peak and knock de peak off. GroUy, 
I’se so wicked,” and Topsy strikes a John L. Sullivan 
attitude. 

" I do hates ter strike a female woman, but I er- 
lows I am jes’ 'bliged ter do it,” ejaculates Uncle 
Tom; but an interruption occurs by the entrance of 
no less a personage than Powell, who marches up to 
Uncle Tom and whispers fiercely in his ear: 

“ I am a lawyer and my name is Marks.” 

“ Fo’ grashus sake ! a land shark, eh ? Well, blame 
ef I care wat yo’ are.” 

"Yes, sir, that’s all right, but I have a warrant 
here for your arrest. Oh, you can’t fool me, George 
Harris. I have been on your track for years.** 

" Well, boss, wat yer gwine ter do ? ” 

" I’m going to have you taken back to your mas- 
ter.” 

"I erlows you’s tackled der wrong nigger dis 
time,” asserts the good old man, but Powell marches 
him off aU the same and afterward explains to him 


76 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


that he saw the embarrassing situation between him 
and Neal and wished to help him out. 

While this is going on, the back curtain rises and 
discloses George Harris, Eliza and her child, and 
Phineas Fletcher Kealhofer, up in the mountain 
fastnesses. 

This elaborate scene is the work of Ed Osborne, 
who has given the subject his undivided attention 
during the evening. 

It is constructed of soap-boxes and chairs, which 
are appropriately draped with the green cambric 
and piled up in artistic confusion. 

No sooner is the discovery made that it is really 
George Harris and his family, together with their 
Quaker friend, than the whole company turn out en 
masse to hunt them down. 

Ophelia Blackmore and Deacon Perry Horton 
with the Siberian bloodhounds, Le Gree Edrington 
with a big white country dog that has been brought 
into the hall since the performance began. Lawyer 
Marks with an old horse-pistol and an umbrella. 
Uncle Tom with a double-barrelled shot-gun and 
Eva with an axe-handle, Topsy an old cross-bow that 
is supposed to have done deadly work in some 
youth’s career. Gumption Cute Kenney, Marie 
Smith, Chloe Norfleet, Haley Rutland, and Sambo 
Osborne follow, carrying dark lanterns, a mop, roll- 
ing-pin, etc., while St. Clair Alexander and George 
Shelby Peck bring up the rear, St. Clair having pur- 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


77 


loined Le Gree’s sword and placed a cocked hat on 
his head. The moh is plentifully supplied with base- 
balls and bats and war seems imminent. 

George Harris Lamar, standing up on a chair, 
which is in turn standing on one of the soap-boxes, 
delivers the following originali^) and unique address : 

Friends, Romans, countrymen, I come not here 
to talk.” 

interrupts Le Gree Edrington, ^^you came 
here to run away.” 

You know too well the story of our thraldom.” 

" Don’t know anything about yer thraldom,” as- 
serts Topsy. “ I ain’t got yer old thraldom. I may 
be wicked but I won’t steal” 

We are slaves.” 

" W at yo’ tryin’ to run away f o’, den ? ” questions 
Sambo Osborne. 

The bright sun rises to its course and lights a 
race of slaves.” 

How vas dot for shiftless ? ” exclaims Ophelia. 

He sets and his last beam falls on a slave.” 

Go up some of you and bring him out of there, 
so I can get at him,” shouts Marks. 

" Not such as swept along by the full tide of power, 
the conqueror led to crimson glory and undying 
fame, but base ignoble slaves.” 

^^Heahdat?” questions Uncle Tom. ‘^Wut yer 
gwine ter do ? ' Stan’ here an’ let him call yer names ? ” 

“ Slaves to a horde of petty tyrants.” 


78 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


'^Atia ! Down with him/^ yells Deacon Perry. 

Feudal despots."" 

Here Gumption Cute Kenney says : 

I"ll be "tarnally chawed up if I can stand this/^ 
and tries to hound the moh on to capture the runa- 
ways, but George Harris continues: 

Lords."" 

And every one turns, looks patronizingly at his 
neighbor, bows, and applies the compliment to him- 
self. 

Rich in some dozen paltry villages."" 

What is he giving us ? "" says Marie. We don"t 
own any villages."" 

“ Strong in some hundred spearsmen, only great 
in that strange spell, a name."" 

Every time there is a pause or where a point can 
be made, George Harris either waves his hand or 
gets in some telling gesture, and every time his 
hand goes through the air Marks or some one else 
shoots at it, and Osborne and Kenney fire base-balls. 
These latter Harris deftly catches and then calls 
out: 

How is that ? "" " Judgment ! "" etc., and then 
continues his address. 

As the speech becomes more exciting the rabble 
gather closer to the mountain fastness, until just 
at the point when George has said, "" Only great in 
that strange spell, a name,"" some one runs against 
the box on which his chair is standing and Harris 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE 


79 


and his followers come skittering down upon them 
like a poodle dog after rats, and the pursuers are 
mowed down as with a cyclone. 

This denouement is not only unlooked for, hut as 
Eliza Barnett afterward remarks, uncalled for/" 

During the general scrimmage pistols and axe- 
handles go off and George Harris Lamar and his 
family once more escape, while the curtain falls upon 
a tableau vivant such as had not been contracted 
for by the company. 

The audience, supposing it is all in the play, cheers 
vociferously and wildlj^ and talks of sending a re- 
quest to the general manager to have that last 
scene repeated. 

In the third act matters become, if not more seri- 
ous, at least more absurd. 

Desbrough announces that the scene will repre- 
sent a lake, upon whose mossj^ banks the thrilling 
incidents of this portion of the play will be executed, 
not put to death exactly, but carried to complete 
effect."" 

The orchestra then strikes up "The Babies on 
Our Block,"" and as the curtain rises. Uncle Tom 
Bowers and Eva 0"Day are discovered sitting side 
by side upon one of the green tarletan-covered soap- 
boxes that have already done such good service. 

The lake is of the same material as were the 
troubled waters which Eliza crossed, only the hu- 
man waves have been removed — or removed them- 


80 


AKGELS OF COMMERCE. 


selves— and are now engaged in holding up a scene 
at the rear of the stage, that was formerly used by 
some local company to represent a forest, and though 
very crude, answers the purpose admirably, with 
the exception of its reaching only half-way to the 
ceiling and a little above the heads of those who 
support it on all sides. 

Eva holds in her hand an almanac from which 
she pretends to read. 

^^Read dat passage agin, ]\Iiss Eva,” pleads Un- 
cle Tom. 

^^And I s-saw a s-sea of g-glass m-mingled with 
f-fire. T-Tom, th-tliere it is.” 

What, Miss Eva ? ” 

D-donT you s-see it t-there ? Th-there’s a s-sea 
of g-glass m-mingled with f-fire.” 

^^Eva, you^s got ’em agin,” says Tom. ^^You’s 
been drinkin’. Fll sing fer you.” And Bowers, who 
never sang a note in his life, struggled through the 
lines : 

“Oh, had I the wings of the morning, 

I’d fly away to Canaan’s shore, 

Bright angels should convey me home 
To the new Jerusalem.” 

St. Clair Alexander rushes on the stage hurriedly 
and offers Uncle Tom his freedom unconditionally, 
with the proviso that he is never again to attempt 
to sing even the simplest melod}^, but Uncle Tom 
repudiates this with great scorn and again tunes up : 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


81 


“ I see a band of spirits bright 
That taste the glories there, 

They are all robed in spotless white, 

And conquering palms they bear.” 

By this time he sees more than a band of spirits 
bright, for a portion of the mob that have been 
chasing after George Harris and his family enter 
and swarm around him. tTncle Tom is bound and 
gagged, Le Gree and Gumption Cute sit down upon 
him, while Topsy cuts a pigeon- wing around the 
stage until she comes to Uncle Tom’s prostrate 
form, and bending over him, she removes a flask 
from his inner pocket, which she holds up to view 
and sings: 

“ I have a 'flask of spirits bright. 

That tastes like whiskey fair.” 

At this juncture Lawyer Marks, who represents the 
arm of the law, snatches it away, and Topsy con- 
tinues : 

“ Of which I’m robbed in what less spite 
By Lawyer Marks — the bear.” 

The mob immediatey make a concerted rush for 
Lawyer Marks, who, after smelling the bottle, in- 
forms them that it is not real whiskey, but only one 
of the stage properties containing molasses and 
water, and they fall back in disgust. 

The moment they are at a safe distance, however, 
Marks makes a rush for liberty, and as he is leav- 
ing the stage, the gang, realizing that they have 
6 


82 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


been duped, rush frantically after him, Le Gree and 
Gumption Cute following* them in hasty confu- 
sion. 

The stage being cleared, Eva O’Day (who has 
been a silent witness to it all) cuts the cords that 
bind Uncle Tom, removes the gag, and they resume 
their seat upon the tarletan-covered box, and Eva 
continues the dialogue by saying, as she points to 
a hole in the dilapidated ceiling: 

“I’m g-going th-there. Uncle T-Tom, to the 
s-spirits b-bright. I’m g-going before v-very long.” 

“Yes,” replies Uncle Tom dubiously, “I reckon 
dose spirits bright ob mine am not only goin’ but 
am done gone, by dis time, but” — turning to Eva — 
“it’s ob no use tryin’ to keep you here, moonshine. 
I’se always said so. I’se nebber seed a chile yit wid 
such whiskers as libed ober a hundred years,” and 
then St. Clair entering cries : 

“Ah, my little pussy, you look as blooming as a 
fhollyhock. You were better than you are to-mor- 
row, am I right ? ” 

“Paw,” replies Eva sententiously, “ I w-want to 
t-talk to you for a f-few hours before I grow weaker.” 

“Nay, naj^ pussy, this is an idle fear. Your 
breath grows stronger every day.” 

“It’s of n-no use, paw, to k-keepit f-from you; I’m 
g-going to leave you n-never to come back.” 

“Ob, goon. You know you’ll be back here in 
thirtj^ days.” 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


83 


This breaks Eva up for a moment, but she bravely 
keeps from laug’hing* while she replies : 

Y-yes. But in the p-play, you know, I’m g'-going- 
to heaven.” 

Well,” says St. Clair Alexander meditatively, if 
this is your only chance to get there, of course we’ll 
have to excuse you. But say, puss, you and Uncle 
Tom run along now and don’t bother papa with 
these side issues.” 

And as Eva and Uncle Tom retire hand in hand, 
St. Clair Alexander gazes mournfully after them 
and then soliloquizes : 

" Has there ever been a child like Eva ? ” and a 
chorus of voices from behind the scenes responds, 
"^Yes!” 

^^Yes,” sajT-s St. Clair, there has been, but its 
name has always been upon the records of some 
dime museum. When you see that deep spirituelle 
light in the eye, and especially when you see it in 

both e^^es — when the little soul reveals itself in 

Great Scott ! ! What is that ? ” 

And well might he ask, for Topsy Neal, who has 
tried to pass from one side of the stage to the other, 
going behind the woods scene, has stumbled and 
fallen headlong and has brought the scene forward 
and down on to the stage with a tremendous crash. 

This is another part of the play not down on the 
bills, and is as unexpected to Topsy as it is to St. 
Clair, but she scrambles to her feet, shakes herself 


84 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


like a hug*e Newfoundland dog*, and exclaims: 
“ Golly, I’se so wicked ! ” and then marching up to 
St. Clair Alexander, inquires : 

Is Eva daid yit ? 

Then St. Clair swoons up against a convenient 
■wing and ejaculates: 

Eva ainH daid yet, hut she will he, and 
all the rest of us, if you make another break like 
that.^^ 

I was jus’ passin’ fru de woods and thought I’d 
drap in and see if you’ns was tolerable.” 

“ Well, next time you drap in, come either through 
the door or skylight and not through the side of the 
house ; hut come. Top, spin out of here.” And Topsy 
Neal remarks as she climbs hack over the woods 
scene 

Golly, I’se so wicked. Glad Eva ain’t daid yit, 
though.” 

St. Clair Alexander then explains to the audience 
that, as Topsy has demolished the only really real- 
istic scene the company possesses, it will he neces- 
sary to discontinue preliminaries and pass on to 
Eva’s bedside at once, but craves indulgence until 
they have time to make up the bed. 

In the scene that follows, Ophelia Blakemore en- 
ters and discovers Uncle Tom lying asleep, and 
pointing to him says, How vas dot for shiftless ?” 
Then going to him she kicks him and asks, " Why 
do you lie around sleeping like a dog for ? ” 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


85 


" Lor’ bress yer. Miss Feelyer. Blame ef I see 
wut ye’re round kickin’ me like a dawg fer.” 

"Well, why don’t you go to bed ?” 

" Watchin’ fer de bridegroom. Miss Feelyer.” 

" How VOS dot for shiftless ? Why, who on earth 
is going to get married ? ” 

"No one on y earth. Miss Feelyer, I was watchin’. 
But look ! ” 

And as the second curtain rises, Eva is discovered 
lying on the bench, with St. Clair Alexander, Marie 
Smith, Topsy Neal, and Marks Powell bending over 
her. 

At this Desbrough strikes up a waltz and Chloe 
Norfleet and Le Gree Edrington come waltzing in, 
Edrington remarking, " I could die waltzing.” 

" Boys,” says Desbrough sternly in a stage whis- 
per, plainly heard by those on the back seats, " go 
back; you are not on in this scene at all.” 

"No?” questions Norfleet in surprise, but with 
his usual accommodation. "All right, George, but 
when do I come ? It seems as if I was cooling my 
heels an unconscionably long while in the flies.” 
And they retire only to appear again almost imme- 
diately with the pack at their heels that had chased 
George Harris into the mountain fastnesses.* 

* The author is aware that it is hardly correct form to 
have bloodhounds and their keepers, lawyers and their fol- 
lowers, and a disorganized mob generally at Eva’s bedside, 
and that it is no way in keeping with the original plan of 
the dramatist; but the reader will please remember that 


86 


ANGELS OE COMMERCE. 


The two boys are exceptionally fine dancers, and 
as they advance across the stag'e to the Amorita 
waltz by the orchestra, Harry (Sid Able), whom 
Eliza Barnett has led back from Canada in order to 
witness the death of Eva, says to Deacon Perry 
Horton : 

“ They dance like sirens.” 

Harry,” answers Deacon Perry reprovingly, 
" sirens sing, but never waltz.’^ 

However, the audience think it is a part of the 
play and applaud vociferously. 

The music ceases and the mob gather around 
Eva^s bedside. ^ 

"People!” Marie Smith cries languidly, "donT 
crowd the mourners. Keep away from the bier! ” 
The gang evidently thinks she means real beer, 
and a riot is about to ensue, when Marie explains 
that it is "Eva^s bier ” she refers to, but Topsy Keal 
says, "Eva^s beer is good enough for her,” and 
again precipitates a rush, which is only subdued 
through numerous explanations from the different 
mourners and the solemn assertion that " there is 
no real beer concealed about the couch of the dying 
Eva.” 

By this time Eva has become disgusted with the 


" boys upon the road ” always stick together, whether it be 
at the bedside of the sick oradog-fight, and when they enter 
into a drama they all play, whether there is a part for them 
or not. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


87 


unwarranted delay and gets up, declaring that she 
won't die before such a gang as that, but she is 
finally pacified and persuaded to be a good girl and 
lie down again. 

As Eva lies upon the bench, quietly resting her 
head upon one arm while she carelessly strokes her 
whiskers with her hand, a sudden thought seems 
to strike Topsy hTeal, and she sobs out in a deep bass 
voice, Romeo, Romeo, whar art thou, Romeo ? " 

In reply to which Lawyer Marks Powell replies : 

Cut up into little stars to light heaven with, but 
what has that to do with Eva and her funeral ? " 
Oh, you ain't got no sense and always had," re- 
torts Topsy, and then Eva takes part by glaring at 
her for a moment and then roaring out, S-shut 
up!" and as Topsy subsides, Eva convulsively 
clutches Uncle Tom by the coat-tails and saj^s. 

Uncle T-Tom, you have been a s-sister to me and 
as a t-token of my affection, I am g-going to w-will 
you my wh-whiskers." 

Topsy again blurts out and Marie Smith says 
savagely : 

Topsy, open the door and chase yourself out or 
plug that wailJ’ And as Topsy once more be- 
comes silent, Eva continues: 

Paw, p-promise me you will s-set all these dear 
p-people free, and especially (after I am g-gone) let 
all these dear p-people, that have listened to us so 
p-patiently, go home — s-set them free too." 


88 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


Having gained his promise to see all her wishes 
carried into effect, Eva rises up, looks all around 
the stage and inquires : Are you all r-ready ? and 
silence giving consent, she lies hack once more, hut 
almost immediately hops up again and exclaims. 

Oh, y-yeS — p-postscript. Maw, if you g-go to my 
f-funeral, take off those s-spurs.” 

As Eva now lies down, supposedly for the last 
time, Topsy Neal begins her hass-voice hluhher again 
and St. Clair Alexander reminds her that she is not 
free yet, and adds : 

“ You never will he, until you learn to control that 
voice of yours.” 

Up to this time Uncle Tom Bowers has not had 
much to say, hut he now ‘^flocks” hy himself to- 
ward Eva. Grouping himself around her hier and 
lifting up his voice, he dolefully sings : 

“Oh, had I the wings of the morning.” 

But at this instant Le G’ , Edrington steps for- 
ward and slugs Uncle Tom with his whip-handle. 

Uncle Tom dies, his last words being, " I is goin’ 
hence to join Eva, hut when we comes hack, hofe of 
us will return.” 

Then Lawyer Marks Powell suggests that it is 
a good time to end this race war, right now,” and 
Topsy Neal, Sambo Osborne, Chloe Norfleet, George 
Harris Lamar with Eliza Barnett and Harry Able 
are in turn unceremoniously put out of the way, hru- 


AT^GELS OF COMMENCE. 


89 


tally slaughtered, and the curtain falls, while the or- 
chestra plays What Shall the Harvest Be ? 

Encore upon encore, applause and cheers compel 
some recognition from the actors, and the curtain 
is again rolled back and Lawyer Marks Powell 
comes forward and addresses the people. 

He tells them that one of the principal characters 
of the play, Gassy McLeod,” has not yet appeared 
on the stage during the evening, owing to the ne- 
cessity of having some competept person behind the 
scenes to attend to the hoisting of the curtain, act 
as stage manager, carpenter, and general utility 
man. That it is not the purpose of this company to 
slight any talent or hide it beneath a bushel, and 
though Mr. McLeod^s natural modesty and retiring 
disposition would keep him from pushing himself 
forward, the company would now see that he was 
given every opportunity and compel him to do 
some acting. 

Gassy McLeod is accordingly brought on the 
stage by the surviving whites and dispatched — as 
were her colored brethren. 

About all there is left to do after this is to see 
that Eva O^Day ascends all right, and for this pur- 
pose the boys have arranged a pulley overhead and 
have attached a rope under Eva’s arms. 

When the curtain rises, all hands go to work to 
hoist her heavenward, but Eva proves too ponder- 
ous a burden, and it is onl^^ by main strength and 


90 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


awkwardness that she is started on her perilous 
and uncertain journey. 

She is finally suspended some three or four feet 
from the fioor, and Alexander is about to turn on 
the red lights, when the rope breaks and she falls 
with the dull thud of commerce. Desbrough plays 
Down went Me Gin by and the curtain is hastily 
lowered. 

Then Colonel Kealhofer comes to the front and ad- 
dresses the audience as follows: Gentlemen and 

ladies: Owing to the intense excitement incident 
to a rehearsal of a play of this kind, our scene-shifter 
seems to have lost the combination and opened the 
wrong gate, which has yery nearly resulted in get- 
ting our little Eva into the domain of the gentleman 
who first passed the plate of apples in the Garden 
of Eden. But by a happy combination of circum- 
stances, the combination presenting this play has 
discovered the combination which the scene-shover 
lost, and now, if you will possess yourselves with pa- 
tience for a few moments, we will endeavor to start 
her in the right direction.^’ 

The colonel is about to retire, when a voice from 
behind the curtain says, Talk some more, we are 
not quite ready,” and Kealhofer, embarrassed, says: 

I am requested by the management to address 

3mu further, but I have a very bad cough ” 

And Desbrough cries out, Cough for the ladies, 
Kealhofer,” and Kealhofer coughs as heartily as his 


AKGELS OF COMMERCE. 


01 


lung’s will let him, while the audience laugh, and in 
the mean time the voice from behind the curtain an- 
nounces that they "are all ready and the colonel 
retires. 

And now the curtain once more rises and this 
time Eva is hoisted up to close proximity with the 
ceiling, while St. Clair Alexander and Marie Smith 
enter from opposite sides with pans of red fire, and 
Deshrough tries to drown the applause by playing 
" Up in a Balloon.” 

This is supposed to end the performance, hut the 
audience keep their seats and wildly shout for more, 
until Deshrough rises from his seat at the piano 
and says: 

" Friends, if you will pause in your mad career for 
a moment, I should like to make a statement. 

"As you have observed, most of the principal char- 
acters of this play have been killed off, and about 
all there is left is the Siberian bloodhounds, with 
barely enough white people to take care of them ; 
consequently it would be impossible to go on with 
that hilarious spontaneity that has thus far charac- 
terized our efforts, without sacrificing either the 
dogs or their keepers, and as the dogs belong to the 
citizens of Prescott, and the surviving members of 
our troupe are engaged at present caring for those 
they have slaughtered, we will have to ask you to 
break away and go home. 

" Besides, it will be apparent to those who possess 


92 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


timepieces — if they will take the trouble to look at 
them— that it is getting* pretty well along into the 
shank of the evening, and too near the Sabbath for 
an entertainment of this kind to proceed without 
breaking the aforesaid Sabbath into a good many 
pieces. 

I trust you may all be benefited by the lesson 
presented here to-night and that we may all meet 
in that better world where they play ^ Uncle Tom’s 
Cabin’ all the year round. And now, friends, we 
leave you because you seem to hate to leave us.” 
And, bowing, Desbrough retires and the audience 
does likewise after declaring that it has been a de- 
cided success — and it has been, financially at least, 
for the widow is several hundred dollars better off, 
and the boys have had more fun than anybody. 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


93 


CHAPTER YII. 

“ Oh I never wear a brow of care, or frown with rueful gravity, 

For wit’s the child of wisdom and good humor is the twin. 

No need to play the Pharisee or groan at man’s depravity— 

Let one man be a good man, and let all be fair Anonymous. 

There is a world of things to attend to after the 
play, and the hoys do not get ready to retire until 
nearly dawn, hut they are used to broken rest, and 
the larger portion appear at the nine-o’clock break- 
fast next morning, apparently as bright as if they 
had had a good night’s rest. 

As a result of the benefit Rutland produces funds 
enough to liquidate all expenses and provide for the 
widow for many a day, and declares that, for one, 
he has enjoyed it more than any free show he has 
ever attended. 

They all express themselves as having had a rat- 
tling good time, and rather marvel at the ease with 
which they have added to the widow’s mite. 

Barnqtt appears rather late and just a little 
sleepy-eyed, but as he seats himself and mops his 
plate with his napkin, preparatory to breaking his 
fast, gives it as his opinion that the boys could 
make better salaries travelling through the land 
and playing Uncle Tom’s Cabin ” than they could 
selling goods. 


94 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


" Possibly so/^ Lamar ventures, if we had a char- 
itable object hack of it and some one to furnish cos- 
tumes and a hall.” 

Charity,” Kenney says, covers a multitude of 
gags, hut it is doubtful if every audience would be 
as charitable as the one last night.” 

Why not ? ” questions Bowers. Such dancing ! 
such acting! such singing! such ” 

Yes,” interrputs Powell. "Such singing as Bow- 
ers gave us would precipitate a riot in nine towns 
out of ten.” 

" Powell is r^of,” says Desbrough (which gag pro- 
duces groans and jeers). " If Bowers were to try his 
vocal powers and I were to try and accompany him, 
I am quite sure that the average citizen would re- 
bel, and that they would not stop at the extermina- 
tion of our colored brethren as you boys did last 
night, but would see that neither white nor black 
escaped.” 

" That is the trouble” Bowers says. "Whenever 
I would attempt to sing, Desbrough insisted upon 
trying to accompany me, and of course created a 
discord. If he had let me alone, I am sure I would 
have made an impression.” 

"You did as it was, John,” retorts Desbrough. 
" I do not think any one in the hall will ever forget 
you or your voice. But really, all joking aside, I 
think Bowers’ singing was one of the great catches 
of the evening, though I did overhear one young lady 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


95 


remark that his voice was a cross between sirenical 
and Satanical, and the gentleman with her said it 
reminded Mm of a buzz-saw ripping through a nail 
in a sidewalk plank.” 

"I don’t believe a word of it,” says Bowers. 

Show me the girl and I’ll go and serenade her.” 

^^No! we don’t want to lose you just yet, John. 
Her father keeps a dog and gun, and he’d be sure 
to kill 3mu, in self-defence; but I must go and attend 
to my letter-writing or I won’t get away to-da^V’ 
and before Bowers has opportunity of replying, 
Desbrough leaves the room. 

The boys all hurry away, as soon as their meal is 
finished, to write to wife, mother, or sweetheart, and 
later on congregate in the parlor, where,experiences 
are exchanged, interspersed with incidents of road 
life. 

" I had a letter from my wife this morning,” says 
Desbrough as he enters the room, “ in which she 
tells me that desolation like a three-hundred-dollar 
conflagration has entered our home circle. Our lit- 
tle ^ Noreen Moreen,’ who has been with us only four 
short months, has succumbed to the inevitable, or 
rather to the wiles of our family physician, and is no 
more.” 

"Who is Noreen Moreen?” asks Keck. "You 
haven’t but two children, have you ? ” 

" She was what you might call a ^ spotted brindle^ 
kitten, but a great pet for all that. Came to us one 


96 


ANGELS OF COMMEllCE. 


awfully hot day last July. On my wife’s birthday, 
by the wa3^ Fisher Jones, one of the Memphis boys, 
was spending- the day with us, and we had all retired 
to the front veranda to try and catch any stray 
breeze that might come our way, but the very first 
breath wafted a little flea-bitten, bedraggled kitten 
into our midst. 

“ I offer this as a preamble to a bit of poetry I 
have written as a sort of epitaph salve, in answer 
to my wife’s announcement of the death of little 
Noreen Moreen, and which explains itself. But first 
let me read what my wife writes in regard to it. 

“ ‘lines on the demise of noreen moreen. 

“ ‘ Our Noreen has gone and left us, 

Her fine green eyes are dim ; 

’Tis for her loss we take our pen 
And dedicate this hymn. 

“ ‘You know how soft her velvet paw, 

How long and fine her tail. 

How sweetly she’d steal milk and meat, 

How loud we’d weep and Avail. 

“ ‘ But change came o’er our kitten’s face, 

She did not act the same ; 

Her back was bad, her legs were 
And made her go quite lame. 

“ ‘ I called the city “ saw-bones ” in 
(You know he lives near by). 

He charged two dollars and a half— 

“ Oh, how Avas that for high?” 

“ ‘ He said she needed chloroform — 

He got some ’round the corner ; 

He ga-ve her ’bout a half an ounce. 

And Noreen was a goner. 


ANGELS OE COMMEKCE. 


97 


“ ‘ No more she’ll gambol o’er the green 
No more we’ll watch her play ; 

Atropos has cut her thread, 

She sleeps beneath the hay. 

‘ ‘No more shall neighbors’ wicked purps 
Her midnight rest assail : 

The rats and mice can run once more. 

Adieu I “ this ends her taiiy 

‘"‘Memphis, Tenn., 

“ ‘ October 25th, 18 — . 

“ ‘ My Dear George : — It is with mingled feelings, 
and so forth, too deep for prose, that I have slopped 
over into poetry in the inclosed lines. 

“ ‘ They will inform you of the last days of our ecru- 
and -white cat, that at one time filled our hearts 
with mirth and our home and person with fleas. 

“ ‘ They will also beautifully describe how 

“ ‘ Doc Williamson he 
With atroci-^ee 
Chloroformed she.’ 

“ ‘After her demise (not before, as is customary) 
the boys buried her in what you have profanely 
dubbed “HelFs Half Acre^’ — that plot behind the 
coal house sacred to the memory of various domestic 
animals and pets that have shuffled off this mortal 
coil at different times — the old crow, the canary, 

the two little chickens, Pip and Zip, that Mr. L ^s 

dog killed; Tony Weller, the blue kitten; Mrs. 
Tobias, the buff hen; and the two stray cats you 
drowned. 


98 


ANGELS OP COMMERCE. 


^ Among this band of departed spirits, Phil and 
Chess planted Noreen Moreen. We had a beauti- 
ful funeral, which we all enjoyed very much— espe- 
cially /. 

^ As is usual on such occasions, I officiated with 
my customary dignity, and if I do say it, the exer- 
cises were " no slouch.^^ 

Like " McGinty,^^ the dear departed was dressed 
in her best Sunday clothes,” with flowering beans 
strewn over the bier (my lap-board), on which the 
coffin (a neat pasteboard shoe-box) rested. 

^ The boys played on combs that truly suggestive 
melody Pull for the shore ” and “ My bonnie lies 
over the ocean,” in a way I shall never forget. 

‘ "^My funeral ode was received with great feeling 
by the small but discriminating audience, and they 
applauded vociferously, which I could not but think 
was in bad taste, coming from the chief mourners. 

^^^The monument, reared by the grateful, not to 
say grimy, hands of our eldest- born, Philip, was a 
work of art and was an emanation of his own brain. 

" ^ The lads had consulted me for some simple yet 
beautiful lines appropriate for the occasion, but 
when I suggested 

“ ‘ Here lies a kit 
As dead as a nit, 

Who died in a fit,’ 

they repudiated it with scorn. So upon the wooden 
head-board which he had laboriously whittled (cut- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


99 


ting two fingers and a thumb in the act of love), he 
had inscribed the following elevated sentiments: 

Noreen Moreen. 

Bom 1890. 

Died 1890. 

Brave soldier gone to rest. 

^^‘To which I suggested adding, Requiesca-^ in 
pace.” 

^ They were doubtful at first as to the propriety of 
the quotation, but when I told them it was really 
and truly Latin, they joyfully wrote it.’ 

Thus endeth the first lesson.” 

Poetry seems to run clear through your family,” 
says Powell with a chuckle as Desbrough finishes 
reading the letter from home. 

Not as much as my family runs clear through 
poetry ; but as I have said before, I have written an 
answer to this, which I will now proceed to inflict 
upon you.” 

^‘^But remember, Desbrough, our extreme youth 
and spare adjust this once” says Bowers. 

^^John,” Desbrough replies, ^^you never gave a 
thought to our sufferings last night when you at- 
tempted to sing, and why should I spare you 9 ” 

And with this Desbrough begins and reads: 

“ How well I remember (although it’s November) 

Your birthday, the 10th of July— 

Oh! my eyes. 

The awful hot sun fairly melted each one 

Of us — Fisher, yourself dear, and I, 

And the “ byes.” 

* Poetic license for boys. 


100 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


Though the sun was near setting, we hadn’t quit sweating 
(I should say perspiring) at all — 

Oh! how hot. 

But while using our fans we were laying our plans 
For much cooler weather this fall — 

Were we not? 

The stillness around was dense, quite profound, 

While we watched the red sun like a ball — 

How is that? 

When from over the fence came a cry so intense 
That it seemed to us all like a call 
From a cat. 

Then came on the scene little Noreen Moreen, 

Gaunt and haggard and worn, full of tears. 

Full of tease. 

And we tenderly nursed her, though often we cursed her. 
For she afterward proved, as appears. 

Full of fleas. 

There wasn’t a mother, a father, or brother. 

But three of her sisters came round — 

The young scrub. 

Anna took one that day, one wandered away, 

And the other — well, I myself drowned 
In a tub. 

Poor Noreen Moreen, she didn’t mean to be mean. 

She just couldn’t help it. She tried, 

I’ve no doubt. 

We fed her on bits of raw beef." She had flts, 

And in one we supposed she had died. 

Petered out. 

But she didn’t do that. She came back, the poor cat 
And tried to sleep in the hall nights — 

She would freeze. 

But we noticed her back seemed all out of whack 
With what people call Bright’s 
Kidney disease. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


101 


While in this condition the city physician 

Said a good anaesthetic would cure her— 

He lied. 

For she never recovered. Her young spirit hovered 

Around us a moment, grew purer, 

And died. 

O Noreen Moreen, you will no more be seen. 

Your sad wail in my memory rings — 

In my flesh. 

Still I’ll say, ere I close, that I do not suppose 

That they’ll use you for violin strings — 

You’re too fresh.” 

" Say, Deshroug-h/" Barnett exclaims at the con- 
clusion of the reading*, " you oug*ht to have read that 
last nig*ht.^^ 

Yes,^^ says Able, ‘Mt would have created as fa- 
vorable an impression as John Bowers^ sing-ing*.^^ 

"That^s all righV^ responds Desbroug*h; ^^but 
that ain^t half as bad as I can do.^'’ 

I will bear Desbrough out in that statemenV^ 
says Kenney. He wrote an article for the Mem- 
phis Sunday Times once that for real, genuine, un- 
mitigated nonsense was far worse than this. Bead 
it to us, Desbrough/^ 

" I don^t know as I have a copy of it with me,^^ 
says Desbrough, but if I have I shall be pleased to 
inflict it on you,^^ and he goes to his room and pres- 
ently returns with the article in question. 

I wish first to explain,^^ he says, " that this spas- 
modic effusion was the result of a month’s living in 
a Memphis boarding-house,” 


102 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


It must be terrible/^ says Bowers. 

" What, living in a Memphis hoarding-house ? On 
the other hand, it was delightful.^^ 

I was referring to the poetry Bowers replies. 

"You’ll find that delightful too, I think,” says 
Desbrough blandly, and then proceeds : " There was 
an elderly lady there who was bitterly opposed 
to anything that bore the remotest relation to 
slang — — ” 

" She must have hated you,” Bowers again inter- 
rupts. 

"I was her pet,” Desbrough answers. "But 
among the boarders were several young ‘ men who 
so far disregarded her wishes as to discard any ex- 
pression that was not fairly teeming with slang 
phrases, and of course the elderly lady — to use their 
vernacular — ^ cut them dead.’ But evil communica- 
tions corrupt good manners, and gradually I ab- 
sorbed their habits to the extent of occasionally in- 
troducing such idioms as would best emphasize my 
conversation, and the result was that I was — meta- 
phorically speaking — ^sat down upon,’ and given 
such a curtain lecture as would have done good to 
more hardened hearts than mine. 

" There was a young gentleman in the house who 
was desperately in love with the old lady’s ward, 
and the incidents of their lives — which are more or 
less truthfull^^ portrayed in these verses — gave me 
the opportunity of telling them to the public and at 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


103 


the same time working in about all the slang with 
which I was familiar at that time/^ 

“ That being the case, you must have written a 
book,” Bowers returns. 

"That was before I met you, John, and I was 
comparatively uneducated in this branch. But 
^listen to my tale of woe.^ The poetry is called 
^ Twelve Months Of IV and is a verse for each month 
in the year,” and Desbrough reads ; 

4 

“ ’Twas the first of January 
That I met my mash, my Sairy, 

At a ball where there were very 
Many people and much style ; 

And when I asked the little daisy 
Could I swing her through the mazy, 

She answered in a lazy 
Kind of way, ‘ Well, I should smile.’ 

“ February was much better, 

For I used to go and get her, 

And I had a chance to pet her 
When sleighing we’d go forth ; 

And I took the opportunity. 

As we sped through the community. 

To squeeze with much impunity 
Her little hand, and so forth. 

“ When the ‘ Ides of March’ came later, 

I told her I should hat© her 
If she didn’t let me cater 
To her wants through all her life ; 

But the giddy thing said, ‘Ah there ! 

You will have to ask my pa, there ; 

He’s the one that pays the cah-fare 
And must give me for a wife.’ 


104 


AIS-GELS OF COMMEECE. 


“ So I said that I would sue him, 

And in April I went to him 
And asked if I could view him 
As a relative; but he 
Said that all I lacked was gall^ 

That his Sairy was his all : 

However, wait till/<x?Z, 

And by that time ‘ he would see.’ 

“ I’d made up my mind to stay, 

So I went there every day 
Until the latter part of May, 

And pressed my suit for all ’twas worth. 
Those indeed were ‘ halcyon ’ days. 

For my heart was all ablaze — 

You will please excuse the phrase — 

With a love too great for earth. 

“ I went around one noon 
In the early part of June, 

And asserted that the moon- 
Light nights were now so fair 
That we ought to go and ride. 

‘But,’ said she, ‘ I can’t abide 
To be seen with any snide : 

Say ! Why don’t you cut your hair ? 

“ ‘ You could wear it Pompadour, 

And I’m sure I’d love you more,’ 

So after that I wore 
It in the way that she loved best; 

But I looked so like a guy^ 

All through June and through July 
That I prayed that I might die 
And henceforward be at rest. 

“Then in August— hottest summer — 

Came a Cincinnati drummer. 

And my Sairy loved the bummer 
With a love that made me sick ; 




ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


105 


And she told me that ‘ she reckoned, 
As long as he had beckoned, 

My love would come in second 
For he was '’‘just too slicks ’ 

“But through September weather 
We were constantly together. 

And I was in high feather. 

For he was out of town ; 

And she told me, there and then. 
That she loved me best of men. 

And that he would not come again ; 
So I thought I had him down. 

“I knew well that he was sly — 

Finer dressed by far than I — 

Though he had a wicked eye 
And was scarcely ever sober : 

And I’d quite made up my mind 
That I’d let the duffer find 
I could knock him silly — blind. 

When he came here in October. 

“ I would have done it, too. 

But before the month was through 
I was called to Kalamazoo 
By an aunt whose son was dead ; 
When in November I returned 
Sairy had been false, I learned 
From a letter, which I burned, 

For this is what it said : 

“ ‘ You’re respectfully invited 
To see Sairy Ann united 
To Algernon New-Meyer Knighthead 
When the present year grows old : 
On the last day of the year 
We’ll be pleased to see you here.’ 
Then ‘ I dropped a silent tear ’ — 
Great heavens ! wasn’t it cold I ” 




106 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


What did the elderly lady do after its publica- 
tion — kill you ? ” 

Oh, yes, certainly, and I died a horrible death, 
which accounts for my being* here now. In reality 
^ she never spoke as we passed by ^ nor has she recog- 
nized me since.” 

‘^She ought not to,” says Norfleet, "nor any one 
else.” 

" Say, Cham, I understand that you had quite an 
ovation in Van Buren not long since,” says Blake- 
more. 

" Oh, that was Vay last winter,” responds Nor- 
fleet. " The snow was a foot deep and I had gotten 
off the train and was looking around for a carriage, 
but ^the hacklet which I longed for never came.^” 

" That don’t go,” interrupts Horton. 

"No, it donH go when it snows,” continues Nor- 
fleet, " but I found on this occasion that a minstrel 
company had just arrived from Fort Smith and 
were inquiring the way up-town. 

" Noticing me and my sample case, the leader ap- 
proached and asked if I would kindly tell him the 
best route to the hotel. I answered that I was go- 
ing that way myself and would be pleased to show 
him. 

" With that the whole gang of twenty or thirty 
fell into line and marched after me. As the snow 
was unbroken in the middle of the street I took the 
sidewalk, and just as we arrived in the business por- 


AT^aELS OF COMMERCE. 


107 


tion of the town, the snare-drummer commenced a 

^ rat-tat-tat-tat-ter-rat-tat-tat-taV and then the hand 

struck up. 

“ Here I was at their head, sample case in hand, 
and the hand playing- to heat anything, and a moh 
of small hoys behind. 

Of course everybody turned out to see what it 
was all about, and I reckon they thought it was all 
done in my honor. 

"Anyhow, I had more compliments and trade that 
day than in any day of my life before or since. 

" The only drawback was that I was unable to 
keep it up afterward, and so have sort of lost my 
grip in Van Buren.^^ 

" I should think you could get la grippe ^most any 
time in Van Buren,^^ suggests Neal. 

"I can get it on myself, but not on my trade,” 
laughingly responds Norfleet. 

" I should suppose you would feel like knocking 
that "^?^7^-flu-end-sah,"” says Bowers, and Desbrough 
falls prostrate on the floor, while the fire goes out 
with a dull sickening thud. 

" Bowers should fall on his sneeze and apologize,” 
says Kenney; and Powell adds that this, coming 
from one who sells cough-fee, is abominable. 

"B-boys,” O'Day says solemnly, "I am a-aston- 
ished; s-seems to me you are R-Russian this thing 
too far.” 

"No need of rushing la grippe,” says Horton. 


108 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


It rushes itself. Any one who has had the sniz- 
zard will bear me out in what I say.” 

Yes, or else help hear out the one who has had 
it,” remarks Barnett, as the laugh subsides; “but 
say, boys, let^s talk of something else — I am posi- 
tively faint from brain overwork in digesting these 
funny scintillations. 

“ Did you ever hear of the trip John Bowers, Sid 
Able, and Blakemore made in the country back of 
Fort Smith ? It was during the hot weather this 
last summer. They had gone for a week without a 
shave or change of linen — or flannel rather, for they 
all wore flannel shirts — and they were in conse- 
quence about as tough-looking specimens as ever 
joined the grand armj^ of tramps. 

“ Finally, after an all-day^s drive through clouds 
of dust, they came to a settlement not more than 
thirty miles from Fort Smith, and sought shelter 
for the night at a dilapidated tavern, where an old 
lady was hostess. 

“ Blakemore acted as spokesman and inquired if 
accommodations could be secured until morning. 

“ ^ Be y ou-uns from W aldron or Fote Smith ? " asked 
the old lady. 

We-uns be from Fote Smith,^ answered Blake- 
more. 

Wall, three hoss-thieves escaped from the Wal- 
dron jail yisteday, and I erlowed as how y ou-uns 
mought be they,^ she ventured, and it took the com- 


ANGELS OE COMMERCE. 


109 


bined argument of the three drummers to convince 
the old lady they were not the three horse-thieves 
she was on the look-out for.^^ 

"We might have looked tough/^ answers Blake- 
more, " but we were not mean enough to take unfair 
advantage of our surroundings, as Barnett and Ken- 
ney did. When the candidates for governor of Ar- 
kansas were canvassing the State, Barnett and 
Kenney struck a village in the interior one night, 
after every one had retired, and they aroused the 
porter only to learn that there was not a vacant 
bed in the house. 

" ^ Well, you tell the madam that Governor Hughes 
and his friend Colonel Eagle are here and must have 
some place to sleep,^ said Kenney. 

"The good old motherly soul overheard the re- 
mark, and with a ^ goodness me ! ^ she flounced out 
of bed and, hastily donning a gown, went and 
aroused a couple of drummers who occupied the best 
double room, and explaining the circumstances, in- 
duced them to vacate, turn in with two others, and 
sleep two in a bed. She then changed the linen on. 
the beds vacated, built a Are, prepared a nice lunch, 
and at midnight went back to her own couch, satis- 
fied that justice had prevailed and that she had done 
her whole duty. 

" Next morning she served a sumptuous break- 
fast, and at a late hour aroused the two governors 
(?) and smilingly awaited their appearance. 


110 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


" She had donned a fresh clean cap and apron, and 
sat at the head of her table with fear and trem- 
bling, as of one who awaits the coming of royalty. 

“After what must have seemed an interminable 
delay, the two governors showed up, and with the 
curling smile of cynics and appetites only known to 
men who travel for St. Louis houses, bade the old 
lady good-morning. 

“ Then for the first time it dawned upon her poor old 
feeble mind that the two governors (whom she had 
not seen but had waited on like a dog) were of the 
common herd — mere drummers. She spake never 
a word, but with the pitiful face of a washed dog 
she retired to her closet, where, upon her bended 
knees, she asked the intercession of divine Providence 
only to give her strength sufficient to mop her onion 
bed with these despoilers of her rest and comfort. 
The governors enjoyed their meal with many a 
knowing look at each other, but when they came to 
pay their bill their hostess said : 

“ ^ Bein^ as how you are both governors, I reckon 
abeout five dollars apiece aiffit any too much; ^ and 
though they kicked and demurred she made them 
pay it too.” 

“ What did you do, George, or say ? ” Kealhofer 
questions. 

“ Nothing. In the first place, Blakey has made a 
bolt of cloth out of a yard of muslin, though in the 
main his story is correct.” 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


Ill 


We left the house as soon as our business would 
permit/’ says Kenney. I asked Barnett afterward 
if he didn’t ^dhink the old lady just a little high in 
her charges and sarcastic in her remarks. 

Oh, not at all/ he replied; ^she probably felt 
all that she said, and I don’t know but five dollars was 
cheap for her trouble.’ At any rate we had good 
accommodations.” 

Didn’t you feel just a little ashamed of your- 
selves ? ” 

‘^K-o-o, not exactly; we vrere only following the 
precepts of the Pilgrim Fathers when they first 
landed in this country. 

“ They fell upon their knees and thanked God for 
this beautiful land, and then fell upon the savages 
and took it away from them. ^So we felt thankful 
for a place of refuge and only used heroic measures 
to obtain accommodations. 

The other drummers were inclined to resent the 
inconvenience they were put to, at first; but the 
joke was too good, and when they found we had to 
give up five dollars apiece, they joined in the laugh 
and regretted they had not been acquainted with 
our plans sooner, though they said nothing about 
being sorry they were not with us in the scheme.” 

I must tell one on Desbrough,” says Kenney, look- 
ing at his watch, and then I must get ready for 
the north train. 

Desbrough had been to St. Louis two or three 


112 


ANGELS OE COMMEEGE. 


times a year for years and had never seen Forest 
Park 

“"For goodness’ sake, Kenney/’ exclaims Des- 
hrough, " don’t spring that on the hoys. They have 
all heard it before.” 

But Kenney continues regardless of protestations, 
and Desbrough leaves the room, but returns just as 
he is finishing and says: Isn’t it queer how mean 
some people can be and live ? Say, governor, if you 
and your colleague are going my way you had bet- 
ter get your rag dolls and come.” 

Hearty hand-shaking and good-bys are hastily 
said, and a portion of the party, including Powell, 
Keck, Kenney, Horton, and Desbrough, take their 
departure for Arkadelphia. 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


113 


CHAPTER VIIL 

“ We have proved we have hearts in a cause."— Tennyson. 

“ Man’s life is not for naen’s creeds, but men’s actions."— Lucile. 

Talk about high living ! There is no hotel in 
Arkansas that sets a better table than the one kept 
by Miss Lee at Arkadelphia. 

Unlike the ordinary two-dollar-a-day hotel, she 
runs it on a strictly two-dollar basis. 

You can go to almost any hostelry in the State, 
outside of the larger towns, and they will charge 
the drummer fourteen dollars a week, and a farmer 
or ranchman from away back, who sits at the hotel 
in his shirt-sleeves in summer and his old moth-eaten 
ulster in winter, and devours double the quantity 
that a travelling man can hold, will pay two bits a 
meal or three dollars and a half per week. If Jus- 
tice should ever take it upon herself to make a trip 
through Arkansas and weigh some of these hotel- 
keepers, they would no sooner hit the scale-pan 
than up they would go, beyond the confines of a 
weary world.* 

As none of the boys know Miss Lee, it falls to the 
lot of Powell to introduce them. 

* At any time Justice sees fit to start on an extended tour 
through the State, the author will be pleased to furnish a 
list of light-weight hotel-keepers. 

8 


114 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


As the hack drives up to the door, the boys flump 
out and are met at the steps by the young- lady in 
question, and Powell immediately falls so far in love 
with her that he nearly forgets his charge, but re- 
covering himself blurts out: 

" I am a drummer and my name is Powell.” 

Oh, yes,” Miss Lee replies, ^^you are one of Uncle 
Tom^s troupe; Pve heard of you.” And then Pow- 
ell formally introduces the rest and they surge into 
the sitting-room, where they And two other drum- 
mers in possession — E. G. Langhorn, a Virginian, 
who always forgets his laundry until after he has 
left a town and has to telegraph back for it, and 
George Gersdorf (a competitor of Desbrough^s), who 
never forgets anything and has already done the 
town as far as trade is concerned. 

The boys cordially shake hands all around and 
have only time to get ready for supper by the time 
it is announced. 

Here, at least, even Governor Kenney looks 
pleased as they gather around the festive board,” * 
and says the old lady who catered to royalty could 
do no better. 

Langhorn and Gersdorf are anxious to hear about 
the play, and the supper hour is taken up with ex- 
planations and answers to inquiries. 

I tried to get there, but couldnT,” Gersdorf Anally 
says. “I thought from the title of the play it 


Copyrighted. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


115 


would be about as exciting* in its nature as custard 
pie. I am glad it was a success. But come, we are 
keeping Miss Lee from her work. Well retire to 
the veranda and smoke, and. Miss Lee, we would be 
pleased to have you join us when your work is fln- 
ished.^^ 

In our smoke ? questions Horton. 

No, in our chat,^^ responds Gersdorf reprovingly. 
So after a while Miss Lee does join them, and Pow- 
ell (who has already passed the phases of formal 
acquaintanceship into the relations that border on 
sentiment) proceeds to monopolize her in conversa- 
tion, which becoming conspicuous, Desbrough says : 

George, what would your wife say if she could 
see you at this moment ? ” 

Now George — who is a single man and always 
has been — is just a little piqued, and answers : Oh, 
go on, Desbrough. You know I am not married.” 

Miss Lee rather arches her eyebrows and inquires 
suddenly: ^^Are you really married, Mr. Powell ?” 

This — figuratively speaking — rattles the young 
man and he enters a positive denial of any such re- 
lation. 

Desbrough continues solemnly: Well, I am sur- 
prised. Have we a Judas among us and so young ? ” 
The rest of the boys take the cue, and Gersdorf says : 

" IPs a mighty mean thing for a married man, like 
Powell, to try and pass himself off as single.” 

^^Yes,” says Horton, who, like Desbrough, is an 


116 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


old married man, ""especially where there are so 
many of us single men that would he so glad to 
help entertain Miss Lee.” 

"" Miss Lee, don't you believe a word they say; they 
are both married and are fathers of large families.” 

"" Why, George,” sa3^s Kenney, "" how can you re- 
sort to such base fabrication ? Miss Lee is hound 
to find out, some time, about your being married, 
and I am sure will have less respect for you than 
she can if jou. will come out openlj^ and own up” 

"" I was going from Memphis to Little Rock two 
or three weeks since,” sa^^s Keck, "" and on the train 
was a lady that must have weighed at least three 
hundred pounds. I know they had to prop her up 
to keep her from surging over into the aisle. I sup- 
posed she was going to some dime museum, but af- 
terward learned it was Powell's wife, going home.” 

This raises a laugh, but nearly destroys Miss Lee's 
faith in what the rest of the boys have said, until 
Gersdorf explains that George's wife is a little fleshy 
and will perhaps weigh 175 pounds, or possibly 180, 
and tells Keck he does wrong to make fun of a lady's 
weight. 

Powell here asserts that if it were true that he 
were married and the boys said so many unkind 
things in regard to his wife, he would not sit 
quietly and hear their abuse. 

""You are not sitting quietly, George,” sa^^s 
Langhorn. "" Of course it is wrong for so many to 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


117 


join ag’ainst you, and you are powerless to do any- 
thing, hut try and keep up your first assertion that 
you are single. Although I have hitherto kept 
quiet, I must say that it ill becomes you to act so 
when you are away from home.” 

Miss Lee’s eyes seem to be opened to the fact that 
George is really a married man, and during the re- 
mainder of the evening he makes as little headway 
into her affections as he would were he really mar- 
ried and a hundred years old. 

Next day is spent with the trade, the boys all get- 
ting to work in earnest, and though they would be 
pleased to stay a week, they are compelled to move 
on, and in the evening all but Gersdorf and Lang- 
horn go to Hot Springs, one of the greatest sum- 
mer, winter, fall, and spring resorts on the conti- 
nent. 

Who has not heard of Hot Springs, with its num- 
berless palace bath houses, its hotels, and hotel run- 
ners ? 

The town is reached by means of a narrow-gauge 
railroad * and broad-gauge ticket. The equipment 
of the road is first class, the ballast good, the length 
some 25 miles, and the time fast. 

When one alights at the far end of the track he 
feels that he has indeed struck a hot spring, sure. 
Hotel drummers swarm around on every side, a 

*The gauge of this road has recently been widened to 
standard. 


118 


ATTGELS OF COMMEECE. 


thousand hotel cards are thrust upon you, and a 
babel of voices, indistinguishable from their inten- 
sity, try to tell you that there are ten thousand 
hotels in the city, each one the best. From the time 
one leaves Texarkana on the south or Little Rock 
on the north he is besieged by dozens of these hotel 
fiends and an endeavor made to exact his promise 
to stop at the caravansary represented by each, and 
ere he reachs the springs life begins to be burden- 
some, even to the healthiest of mortals. 

What must it be to those going there to seek 
health and rest? There are ample accommoda- 
tions for getting up into the city — street-cars, om- 
nibuses, and if one is moderately wealthy he can 
take a hack, though if he does he usually walks 
back to the station when he is ready to leave. The 
boys give their solemn promise to each of the hotel 
runners to stop at his inn and ask for rates, saying 
they will probably stay two or three weeks. What 
are the chief places of interest in and around the 
springs ? Are the baths really beneficial, and if so to 
what extent ? Can they certainly get a hack at the 
depot or will they be compelled to go in an omnibus ? 
What are the rates of the hacks ? Do the street- 
cars connect with the trains ? etc. — questions that 
are always asked by tourists, which the boys have 
inquired hundreds of times before and have quite 
as good knowledge of as the runners themselves. 

Arriving at their journey^s end they quietly get 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


119 


off, march through the army of besiegers, and get- 
ting on a street-car ride up to the Arlington, where 
they have always stopped on previous visits, and 
probably always will stop until they quit going to 
the city or the Arlington burns down. 

Here they register and then leisurely walk out 
and through the town, stopping occasionally to 
shake hands with a customer or friend. 

Of the latter they meet a good many, for Hot 
Springs is a great rendezvous for the boys and most 
of them spend two or three days there, the city be- 
ing of no inconsiderable size and traffic good at all 
seasons. 

At one of the stores they meet Frank Johnson, a 
drummer well known to them all, and Stone, the St. 
Louis queensware man. 

Now, Stone is one of the few who can make a suc- 
cess of the queensware business and at the same 
time be a consistent Christian. He is a man of 
sterling qualities and an indefatigable church worker. 
He is also a great advocate of foreign missions. 

Johnson makes no pretensions to being a charity 
worker, but in his quiet way does as much for the 
poor as any one of his means. 

It appears that these two have been stopped by 
the proprietor of one of the business houses, who 
happens to know both boys, and has been trying to 
work on their sympathies by the tale of a drayman 
whose family has but recently recovered from a 


120 


ANGELS OF COMMENCE. 


lori^ illness, and now the drayman has lost his horse, 
his only means of support. 

The business man is sorry — awfully sorry — and 
the matter has weighed upon his mind until he feels 
the need of unbosoming himself, and so has done so 
to these two. The drayman, by the way, has been 
in the employ of this man for years. 

Frank Johnson, speaking up, says: ^^You say 
you are sorry for this poor man — how sorry are 
you?^^ 

Why, I am just as sorry as I can be. I wish I 
could get him more work to do, so he could afford 
to buy another horse.^^ 

“Well,” says Frank brusquely, “I am sorry five 
dollars’ worth — are you 9 ” 

“N-o-o, hardly that. You see, I can’t afford to 
give my drayman so much. You see, I pay him 
pretty well anyhow. 

“ Yes, and he works pretty well, I suppose. At 
least he has worked hard enough to kill his horse. 
I am sorry five dollars’ worth, and if you want to 
go in with me we’ll each sa3^ ten dollars, and my 
friends here will make it up to fifty dollars.” 

But this business man, who could buy and sell 
Johnson a thousand times, as far as wealth is con- 
cerned, cannot see how he can afford to give any 
more than the starvation wages he has been paying 
from time to time. 

This incident leads to a discussion relative to for- 


Al^GELS OF COMMEKCE 


121 


eig-n and home missions as the boys sit around that 
evening, smoking and chatting, on the veranda. 

Desbrough at heart is with any object that has 
any phase of charity attached to it, but he (knowing 
how earnestly Stone is interested in foreign missions) 
cannot help taking issue with him in a way to call 
out his most earnest expressions. 

I am not entirely certain,^’ Desbrough says after 
the debate has become somewhat hot, "whether it 
is better to send our money to foreign lands or to 
keep it at home and buy dray horses. It has always 
been a question to my mind, as some great author 
has said, whether some heathen, now idly and joy- 
ously wantoning in wickedness and sin, might not 
be brought to a sense of his miserable condition and 
made, through that nickel we contribute, to feel the 
torments of the d — wicked.^^ 

"Or, in other words,^^ Horton adds, taking up the 
subject, "if it be true that the heathen, being igno- 
rant of sin, are not responsible, like a child, and that 
our money will carry the enlightenment to them, 
that will make the saving of their souls dependent 
upon their turning to God. If ignorance of sin will 
not be condemned and knowledge of evil make us 
responsible beings, why, then, who is responsible for 
the saving of heathen souls if our money carries the 
enlightenment to them that will damn them ? 

"Phew!” Desbrough says with a prolonged 
whistle. "How you have got us into it. Chess! ” 


122 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


"" On the same principle/^ Stone replies, his usually 
good temper a little ruffled, " I suppose you would 
object to the education of children. If you bring 
up a child in ignorance, and he is untaught that 
murder, arson, or the breaking of any of the ten 
commandments is a crime, he is necessarily irre- 
sponsible, and though he may commit murder and 
might be hung for it, still in the sight of God he 
would not be a murderer. But you would. The Bible 
teaches that we are to carry the Word into all lands, 
and if we fail to do so we will be held to account, 
perhaps for the future of more than one benighted 
soul.^^ 

If that is true,^^ Horton says, we are already 
guilty for not having done our duty in the past, and 
no telling how many generations of these heathen 
vipers we will have to give account for. No, Stone, 
I cannot agree with you fully. While I believe in 
charity and am willing to help, in my poor way, in 
any charitable undertaking, still I do not believe 
that we are held responsible for any lack of it. That 
is to say, if we are unaware of the actual condition 
of those who need our help, I cannot see how we are 
of necessity in duty bound to thrust out a helping 
hand, that any who may happen to come our way 
may use it as a handle to climb up upon.” 

But we are in a position,” sa^^s Stone, " to know 
all about those, in foreign lands especially, who need 
our help. Others have investigated the subject 


AKGELS OF COMMEBCK 


123 


thoroug'hly, have been and are upon the ground, 
and all they ask is that we contribute our mite and 
they will do the work for the salvation of those 
among whom they labor.” 

^"Speaking of charity,” says Frank Johnson, ^^did 
you ever hear how T. E. Tillotson and his brother 
Charlie helped the poor hunteFs wife in South Ar- 
kansas ? 

It was a cold, bitter day last winter, and the 
two boys were driving from Richmond, Ark., to 
Lockesburg. When they came to the Red River 
ferry, they were delayed in getting across and were 
nearly perishing with cold. Charlie suggested that 
they hitch their horses and make for a cabin, a short 
distance away, and get warm. Following up the 
suggestion, they were soon at the door, and finding 
it ajar, they stepped inside. 

“ Here they found a woman in rags and tatters, 
hovering over a half-built fire. There was no furni- 
ture of any kind in the shanty. An old pot was 
upon the fire, in which the woman was cooking 
some sort of a mess for her meal, and in one corner 
of the room was a pile of straw, evidently used as 
a bed. 

“ The most abject poverty was evident on every 
side. 

"The two boys^ hearts were touched. Upon in- 
quiry, they learned that she was maimed; her hus- 
band was alive and was a hunter. When he shot 


124 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


anything they had meat, hut oftentimes they had 
none. 

The hoys gleaned considerable knowledge from 
the woman, and when they left they were hoth in a 
towering passion. Charlie especially was indignant 
against anything in the semblance of a man that 
could bring a woman to such degradation and pov- 
erty, and said he would like to have hold of him for 
about five minutes and teach him a lesson or two. 

When they got to the ferry again they sent back 
two dollars (all the change they had), and made up 
their minds that when they arrived in Lockesburg 
they would buy a few articles of clothing and pro- 
visions and send back by the first hack going that 
way. 

“ By the time they got to Lockesburg Charlie was 
boiling with rage, and not stopping to either eat or 
warm, the two boys repaired to one of the general 
stores, where they found a large crowd collected (as 
is the habit in general stores) and immediately be- 
gan their purchases. 

In the mean time Charlie entered into a history 
of the case to those in the store, and condemned the 
man who called himself husband, until a lank, lan- 
tern-jawed, uncouth individual leaning against a 
cracker-barrel and quietly munching crackers and 
cheese, while he supported a double-barrelled shot- 
gun between his legs, inquired, ^ What did yer say 
the name of the pussun was, mister ? ’ 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


125 


' Curley/ responded Tillotson, ^ and he ought to 
he strung* up for neglecting to support his family.’ 

^ I reckon/ he of the lantern jaw replied, ‘ that 
ther was more ter eat in that house than you 
knowd of.’ 

^‘‘1 know a blamed sight better/ Tillotson re- 
sponded hotly, and then, suddenly, Ms your name 
Curley 9 ’ 

Yis, sir/ the man replied, fondling his shot-gun; 
and T. E. got his brother out and over to the hotel 
before murder was committed. 

^ Charlie/ said T. E. a little later on, ^ we might 
send the provisions and clothing back by Curley 
himself.’ 

^^But Charlie could think of no words strong 
enough to express himself, though it is needless to 
say Mrs. Curley never received any further dona- 
tion from the Tillotson boys.” 

Would the old man have shot Charlie, do you 
think ? ” Desbrough inquires. 

I don’t know, but certain it is that Charlie would 
have given him a chance if it hadn’t been for T. E. ; 
for he certainly would have hopped on him and 
either been killed or else have given the old man an 
unmerciful thrashing. 

If you ever wish to hear bad French, you just 
mention to either of the Tillotson boys that you are 
getting up a collection for the Curleys, and ask them 
for a couple of dollars.” 


126 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


CHAPTER IX. 

“ The world is too much for ns.''— Wordsworth. 

“ Old friends to talk. Ay, bring those chosen few.”- -Messenger, 

Is Mr. Rosenbaum in ? ” 

"" Is Mr. Rosenbaum in ? ” 

^^Vhat?^^ 

Is Mr. Rosenbaum in ? ” 

“ Vliat do you vant to know fer ? 

^"My name is Keck. I travel for the Rumsey 
Manufacturing" Company.^’ 

/^My name is Keck. I travel for the Rumsey 
Manufacturing Compan^^” 

^^Vhat 

^^My name is KECK. I travel for the Rumsey 
Manufacturing Company. I am selling pumps and 
agricultural implements. Is the proprietor in ? 
^^Huh?^^ 

I say is the pro-pri-e-tor in ? ” 

" Pm the procrietor. Vhat do you vant ? 

Why, I am selling pumps for th^ Rumsey Man- 
ufacturing Company. My name is Keck.” 

^Well, shiminy grashious, Keck, vhy didn’t you 
coom pefore the vater-vorks vas poot in some 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


127 


more? Yedon’d vant poomps after dey vas pilt, 
ainM it ? ” 

“ I am not here for the purpose of selling water- 
works pumps, but just common, every-day stone, 
wood, or iron pumps.” 

Huh?” 

" I say, I sell other pumps besides those for water- 
works. How^s your stock ? ” 

I donMt know, de buyer is oudt und der cellar is 
downd-stairs.” 

“ Don't you buy for the concern ? ” 

Huh?” 

Don't you buy for the concern ? ” 

"No. I dell you der puyer is not in.” 

" When wull he he in ? ” 

"Huh?” 

" When will he be in ? ” 

"Yhat?” 

" When will he he in 9 ” 

" He vill pe in vhen he gets pack.” 

" Oh ! Is he out of the city ? ” 

"No, he vas oudt of der store.” 

" Where is he now ? 

"Ofer at some hotels looking at a trummer's 
sampl 

" What kind of a drummer ? ” 

"Huh?” 

" What KIND of a drummer ? ” 

" Man, of course. T'ink he vas a female trummer ? ” 


128 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


I mean, what is he selling* ? ” 

""I thnks he sells nodings. Ve haf plendy hard- 
vare.” 

"" Oh ! he is selling hardware, is he ? ” 

"'No. I finks he sells nodings."" 

" How long has he been gone ? "" 

"Huh?"" 

" How long has he been gone ? "" 

" Efer since he vent avay."" ♦ 

" Oh, yes. How long is that ? "" 

"Since pefore a little vhile ago."" 

" Ah, here he is now. Good-morning, Mr. Rosen- 
baum."" 

" Hello, Keck ! Selling poomps some more ? "" 

" Yes. How is your stock ? "" 

"Dot"s all right. Say, let"s go "cross der vay 
vhere ve get a coople of kegs. You drink peer, 
ain"d it ? "" 

' "Yes, sometimes."" 

" Mr. Friedlitzheimer, ve vill he pack plendy soon. 
Now, Mr. Keck, you sell poomps and agricultural 
instruments fer Roomsey — dot"s all right. I know 
Roomsey. I used to trive a dray in St. Louis. 
Roomsey he know me. Now tell me, how mooch 
costna dose Mayfield wasser elet^ators ? "" 

" Do you want them complete ? "" 

" Of coorse. Eferyting in."" 

" Thirty per cent, off is the best I can do. That 
is combination prices, you know."" 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


129 


don’d vant some complication goots in my 
house.” 

Why not ? ” 

" Veil, I haf a friendt down Leetle Rock. He 
sell complication goots und in less than von year he 
make a resignment. But here ve are. Yhat you 
take ? ” 

What we came after — beer.” 

Dot’s all right. Say, you know my poy Jakey ? ” 
" That nice-looking young fellow that attends to 
the shipping department at the store ? ” 

^‘'Yah, dot’s him. Say, my Jakey, he’s a nice 
poy, und a goot poy und smardt poy, put he’s a 
tampt fool.” 

Why, how is that ? ” 

‘^Did you see dot eye-of his, plack und plue like 
your hat ? You see, my Jakey, he go down to play 
hoos-ball last S’a^turday and von of dose poys — he 
vas a great deal leetleler as Jakey vas — he trow a 
hoos-hall, und my Jakey tried to catch it, put it 
slipped troo his hands und hit him in der eye und he 
came home par-a-sized, don’d it ? ” 

That was too had.” 

Too pad ! It vas too goot — ha ! ha ! But say, 
Mr. Keck, ve go pack to der store. I vant ter show 
you somedings. Now den, Mr. Keck, I vas been 
robbed, let me tole yer. I vanted to put wasser 
works in a few houses vhat I pilt to rent, und a man 
he coom from St. Louis down, und vants me to let 
9 


130 


ANGELS OE COMMERCE. 


him pool in dose wasser works, says he has all dose 
leetle pipes und leetle din^^s like dot. He coomto me 
like dot, you see, und I ask of him how mooch costna 
dose wasser works, und dot wasser-works man say, 
^ Dot^s all right, Rosenbaum, I pools dem in cheaper 
as anypody.’ ^Very vell,^ I say, ^ dot’s all right,’ 
so he goes on und poots in dem wasser works und 
vhat you dinks? He prings in a pill about nine 
pages. Here I show you. Von idem like dot: 16 oz. 
solder at $1.00 per oz. Time, $4.00. For getting 
tools, $5.00. Losing 4-inch wrench, $3.85. Time, 
$6.00. Vat you dink of dot. Keck ? ” 

“ If that was all you had, the job was cheap.” 

" No, mine friendt Keck, dere is aboud tree hun- 
nerd tollars back of dot. Vat you t’ink dob vas 
for ? ” 

" I’m sure I can’t tell. Probably for pipe wiping, 
joints, brass faucets, bibs, washers, and a hundred 
other things. Perhaps this party did get a little 
the best of you; but we all have to pay for our ex- 
perience.” 

"Yah, I dinks so too, but der next time I puts 
wasser works in my houses I telegraphy fer you and 
puts dem in mine selluf, ain’d it ?” 

" That’s the best way, Mr. Rosenbaum. How is 
your stock now ?” 

"Purty midtling low; but see here. Keck, der last 
pill vhat ve did get from you vas all wrong — ter 
name misspelled und some of ter poxes pusted vide 


Al^aELS OF COMMENCE. 


131 


open. Dere vas an ofercharg-e on der poomp hand- 
ties, und der freight vas simply enormous” 

Well, Mr. Rosenbaum, I will try and fix all that 
for you. In a large house like ours, these small 
mistakes are bound to occur occasionally, but we 
try to be careful and I do not think you will have 
any trouble in future.” 

‘Well, you vill haf to fix der last pill all right, or 
ril quit puying from your plamed old house.” 

" ThaVs all right, Mr. Rosenbaum. You will find 
the Rumsey Manufacturing Company are always 
ready to rectify any reasonable mistake. Who was 
that man I spoke to when I first came in ? One of 
the porters in the house ? ” 

“No; dot’s Friedlitzheimer, der new partner. 
But say. Keck, how apout dis last pill — are you 
going to seddle it now? If so, I gif you dis 
order.” 

It requires an immense amount of patient explana- 
tion and trouble, but the discrepancies are finally 
settled, the new bill taken carefully down, inter- 
spersed with notes as to shipment, packing, etc., and 
Keck is about to leave, but suddenly remembers 
something and says : “ Oh, yes ! the firm name has 
been changed recently, hasn’t it ? ” 

“Yah, und I vant you to pe sure und get it right 
dis time und make no mistakes. The firm is Fried- 
litzheimer, Rosenbaum & Stachlenhauzer.” 

Aghast : “ How do you spell it ? ” 


182 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


“To tell de truf, I donT know. Vait und I get 
you a letter-head.” 

Keck finally secures the document and is passing* 
out, when he meets the personage whom he first 
accosted and who says as he passes him ; 

“ Goot-py.” 

“Huh?” 

“ Goot-py I ” 

“Yhat?” 

“ Goot-py ! ! you tampt fool.” 

“ Oh,” says Keck and passes out, solemn as a par- 
son with the mange, but feeling that he is in some 
degree even with him. Rushing along the street, 
he meets Horton and Desbrough, grips in hand, on 
their way to the railway station, for it being a fine 
day, the3^ have sent their heavier baggage ahead 
and concluded to walk. 

“Hello!” he says in surprise. “You are not go- 
ing to leave us, are you ? I thought you were going 
to stay and go with us to-morrow.” 

“Yes,” Desbrough replies to the first question. 
“ I received a telegram from Korfieet an hour ago? 
sajdng that he and Kenney were going to make a 
country trip back of Batesville and asking us to 
join him. As we have to make the trip anyhow, we 
concluded to shorten our stay in the ^City of Va- 
pors ^ * and go to them in Little Rock. It lightens 


* Hot Springs. 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


133 


the expense, you know, and what is better, gives us 
the best of companions for a tough trip/^ 

Well, I am sorry to have you leave, boys, but as 
I could only go with you as far as the Rock * any- 
how, my loss will naturally be your gain/^ 

^'Well meet again next month, Harry, possibly 
sooner, and in the mean time the town is yours. 
Tell Johnson and Stone why we left and good-by,^^ 
and they hurry away. 

Their trip to Little Eock is without incident, with 
the exception of their meeting on the Iron Mountain 
train a quartette who have gained a State reputa- 
tion as the Penucle Four.^^ They are unknown to 
Horton, but Hesbrough^ introduces them as Capt. 
Cad Hanks, Jules Eakin, John Plummer, and Horace 
Bartee. 

These four are so engrossed in the game that they 
can scarcely stop long enough to shake hands, and 
as soon as the introduction is over settle back to 
business. Captain Hanks remarking that he sup- 
poses they will get along very indifferently now 
that Desbrough has put in an appearance.” 

Desbrough does rather retard the playing by a 
constant fire of questions and rather worries the 
captain especially, who is a devotee of this particu- 
lar game of cards and would rather play it than eat.- 

"Do you boys ever stop playing penucle long 


Little Bock, 


134 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


enoug-h to sell goods ? ” Desbrough questions. And 
Hank replies : 

"Yes, and we stop selling goods long enough to 
play penucle, too.^^ 

" I believe you,” says Desbrough laughingly, " for 
I have never heard of you when you were otherwise 
engaged. Say, could you quit playing long enough 
to take a drink ? ” 

" Could we ? Well ! ! ! ” and they all throw down 
their hands and start to rise to their feet, but Des- 
brough says calmly : " Don^t get excited. I haven’t 
anything to drink. I simply asked for informa- 
tion,” and with intense disgust the four resume their 
game. 

" Say,” Horton asks presently, " do any of you 
make the trip back of Batesville ? ” 

" No one but Eakin,” says Bartee, " and he don’t 
do any good.” 

" I don’t exactly go back of Batesville,” replies 
Eakin. " I generally start in from Morrilton (as I 
expect to do day after to-morrow) and go as far as 
Sugar Loaf Springs, returning by way of Springfield 
and Salgohachia.” 

" Sal-a-go-w/ia^-chia ? ” Horton questions. 

" Salgohachia. I don’t go as far as Batesville.” 

" Who is going with you, Jule ? ” asks Desbrough. 

"Henry Plummer — John’s brother, here — you 
know. Bob Dashiel, and Bob Pones. In fact there 
is a whole gang going, though not in our hack; J. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


135 


T. King*, Tom Burrows, Gus Rutland, and I don’t 
know how many more.” 

Whew ! ” says Desbrough, " if we should happen 
to run afoul of each other in any of the inland towns, 
as we are apt to do, some one would have to sleep 
with the mules.” 

I don’t know of smy one who would feel more at 
home among them than you, Desbrough,” says 
Plummer, at which they all laugh and Desbrough 
replies : 

"Well, John, if you were not a competitor of 
mine, I might feel hurt at such a remark; but jeal- 
ousy always engenders spite, you know, and such a 
remark could only come from disappointed ambi- 
tion.” 

" Sleeping with mules comes from the same cause; 
but say, Desbrough, Bartee says that you told 
Gersdorf you sold a bill of $500 in Hope. Was that 
the order I helped you copy ? ” 

" The same,” Desbrough answers. 

" Why, that only amounted to a little more than 
$200. How did you get it up to $500 ? ” 

" Well, you see, John, if I had told Gersdorf that 
I sold only $200, he’d have given me credit for hav- 
ing sold only $100. The idea is this. I had to tell 
him $500, knowing he would discount my statement 
at least one hundred per cent. I only tell competi- 
tors these fairy tales. I find I have to do so in order 
to keep my commercial rating with the trade.” 


136 


ANGELS OF COMMENCE. 


"All Gaul was divided into three parts,” says 
Bartee, " or to speak in your own lang’uag-e, ^ Gallia 
est omnis divisa in partes tres/ Say, Desbrough, 
you must have gotten your ^gall^ before Csesar 
divided.” 

" If I did, you grocery drummers managed to get 
most of it from me before I could divide,” retorts 
Desbrough. And then Bartee passes a copy of a 
letter for Desbrough to read which he has seen be- 
fore, but being good he re-reads it aloud for the 
benefit of the company. 

It is from the employers of an Israelite who has 
been having tough luck for two or three weeks and 
has tried to explain to his house that it was mostly 
due to the condition of the weather in Arkansas, 
and is as follows : 

" Mr, Morris Lesser, Malvern, Ark, 

" Dear Sir: — Ye haf peen advised from your com- 
munigation from Monticello, Arkansas, dot ve haf 
an eighteen hunnerd tollar ter?no?7ieter on ter roadt, 
who dells us dot it haf peen raining in ArA:ansas 
for tree weeks. My dear sir, do you thnk ve can 
affort to gif $1,800 for a trummer who sents us only 
vedder reborts? Ye can git vedder reborts at der 
City Hall for dwo cents. Yat ve vant is orters und 
blendty of tern. If it rainds in ArA:a?isas you haf 
our permission to leaf der bottom landts und go to 
der hills, vere you findt it plendty dryer. But you 


AIS'GELS OF COMMERCE. 


137 


must sell goots und quvit sendtin.g* vedder reborts, 
or come in. 

"You say to sent you our check for one hunnerd 
tollars to Little Rock. Ve vill do so, but must cau- 
tion you to not plow it in on cardts or high lifing 
und leaf vine und vimmen alone. 

" Ve sent you py to-tay^s oxpress a sample of fine 
cigars vich ve pought six years ago und it is a leetle 
dry. It cost us eleven tollar a tousand. Our sell- 
ing price to de trade is t’irty-fife tollar a tousand. 
Make us no refusal at sixteen tollar a tousand. Sell 
all you can, as ve haf forty tousand left. Hustle de 
trate und sent us orders und make us no more vedder 
rebordts. Yours, etc., 

" Isaac Isaacson & Bro. 

"P. S. — Ve nodice in your oxbense account some 
laundtry twenty cents und bar bill one tollar und a 
halluf. Ve vould suggest you make de two items 
pallance more efenly in fudure, bud dond ingrease 

jmur laundry^ piB. I. I. & 

" Horace,^^ says Desbrough, and is about to make 
some remark in regard to the letter, when looking 
out of the window he sees a big shepherd dog run- 
ning toward the train and exclaims explosively 
"see there 

" Do you think he will catch it ? inquires Bartee. 

" If he don^t lose his pants,’ Desbrough answers, 
and then Captain Hanks throws down his cards and 


138 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


declares he cannot play as long as Desbrough is 
around. 

^"They must be beating you, Cad,^^ says Des- 
brough, “ but never mind— you couldn't play longer 
anyhow, for here we are at the Rock.” 

The cards are hastily gathered up, the baggage 
gotten together, and as the train pulls into the sta- 
tion the^^ all take hacks for the Capital Hotel. 

Little Rock, besides being the capital of the State, 
is also the largest city in Arkansas, having a popu- 
lation of nearly 50,000 inhabitants. 

Her streets are paved and lighted by electricity, 
second to none of any city of her size in the 
Union. 

The town is beautifully situated on a bluff over- 
looking the Arkansas River, has many modern im- 
provements, good street-car service, dummy lines, 
and three or four good hotels, though the Capital 
is the rendezvous for all drummers. 

Here the boys meet a host of friends and among 
them Norfleet and Kenney. Later on, Frank Cook, 
tall, good-natured, fine-looking, and a host within 
himself, makes his appearance and is persuaded to 
join the quartette in their countrj^ raid. 

There are so many of the boys in town that Cap- 
tain Hanks, who is president of the T. P. A., calls a 
meeting in the hotel parlors and some twenty or 
thirty listen to an informal address b^^ the ex-pi‘esi- 
dent, Henry Vickers, and afterward short speeches 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


139 


are made by different members and the evening is 
pleasantly and profitably spent. 

The next morning Norfleet and party leave for 
Batesville, stopping at Newport for a day, and Sat- 
urday is spent .in working the first-mentioned town 
and in preparation for an early start Monday morn- 
ing. 

Sunday they all go to church, and having a quin- 
tette of as fine voices as are found anywhere, they 
create no little sensation by leading and carrying 
the song service. 

Cook is something of a church worker, too, and not 
only takes a class to teach at the Sabbath-school, 
but afterward addresses the school in a way that 
does credit to himself and to those who are with him. 

At night the boys go to a different church and 
repeat the order of the morning, doing most of the 
song service for the congregation, and at an early 
hour they retire to get the rest, that is necessary in 
order to endure the contemplated trip, for they ex- 
pect to start by five o^clock in the morning. 


140 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


CHAPTER X. 

“I have watched and travelled hard ; 

Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I’ll whistle. 

Fortune, good-night; smile once more, turn thy wheel I ” — Lear. 

Rain, rain, rain. Drizzle, splash, rain. 

When the hoys arise at four o^clock on Monday 
morning’ they find a drizzling rain coming down 
and the dismal prospect of its being worse, for the 
clouds are heavy and black. 

They proceed to get ready just the same, and by 
five o’clock are in a three-seated hack, with a stout, 
burly negro for a driver. 

The hack is strong and substantial and has cur- 
tains drawn in such manner that there is no possi- 
bility of getting wet, and there is hilarity among 
the travellers, for a drummer cares little for dis- 
comfort if he can have plenty of companions and 
those of the right sort. 

Desbrough sits on the front seat with the driver, 
and as the hack is about to move away, starts the 
conversation with the remark, Damp, bad day.” 

OYQvhead, yes” sa^^s Horton, "" but I trust we 
are not going that way.” 

“ There is this peculiarity about a storm of this 
kind/’ says Desbrough, ^^I’ve frequently noticed it^ 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


141 


for instance, this rain is nothing* more than a hard 
mist; now, if it were to stop altogether it wouldn^t 
he ^ missed,’ ” 

'^If you don^t stop making these outrageous 
hreaks,^^ says Norfleet, you won^t be missed either, 
because youfll get hit.” 

^^Well,” Desbro ugh replies, "the man that strikes 
a drummer, save in the act of borrowing, oft finds 
that he has missed hit.” 

At which they begin to whistle and hold secret 
conclave as to what method they can use to reform 
Desbrough before it is too late. 

Soon after leaving Batesville they cross White 
River on a hand ferry and are on their way south- 
ward, over mountains, creeks, and through forests, 
toward Sugar Loaf Springs, a hamlet forty miles 
distant, which is to be the first stop of any import- 
ance. 

Seven miles from Batesville they reach James- 
town, where they stop long enough to eat breakfast 
of fried pork, corn bread, eggs, and black coffee. 

The boys are half-starved and everything tastes 
good, even Kenney (who is just a little fastidious) 
remarking that he has eaten meals that cost five 
dollars a plate that he didn^t relish half so much. 

By eight o’clock the horses are fed and are again 
upon the road. They are urged forward, for forty 
miles over the mountains with a heavy hack is a 
hard clay’s work, and unless the beasts are made to 


142 


ATTGELS OF COMMERCE. 


hurry a little, there is a prospect of failure to g*et 
there and of sleeping in the woods. 

But it seems almost impossible to get effective 
work out of the team, and by three in the afternoon 
they are scarcely twenty-five miles from Batesville, 
and now it becomes apparent that one of the horses 
is sick and can hardly stand, much less pull the 
heavy load attached to his shoulders. 

The boys get out of the hack into the rain and 
mud, and unhitch the animals, while Desbrough re- 
peats : 

“And heedless of hunch and kick and nudge 
It stood stock-still in the muck and sludge, 

A horse with an everlasting grudge, 

That had taken an oath it wouldn’t budge.” 

The darkey is sent on a foraging expedition, for 
some of the boys think the horses have given out 
for want of food, though, as Cook remarks, " they 
have not suffered for water 

Kenney suggests that the beasts may possibly 
be victims to Desbrough’s gags and are too weak to 
stand up under them, but Desbrough reminds Ken- 
ney that these animals have horse sense and would 
undoubtedly have succumbed long ago if their spirits 
had not been kept up by the ringing laughter from 
their— the boys^ — merry hearts; or, Korfieet adds, 
the merry laughter from our wringing hearts.^^ 
Which coming from Korfieet,” says Desbrough, 
is considered in bad form, for Cham never puns.” 
The darkey is gone for an hour, during which time 


AiS'GELS OF COMMERCE. 


143 


the boys rub the horses down and feed them a few 
handfuls of dried grass, which the poor beasts re- 
ceive with thanks. 

Finally Jim, the negro, returns, bringing with him 
a couple of bundles of oats, and is followed by a 
•ranchman who lives a mile or so away and has come 
to offer any assistance he can, and especially— ad- 
vice, for which, including the oats, he charges a 
dollar. 

The beasts are fed and meantime the boys par- 
take of a lunch of boiled eggs, sardines, cove oysters, 
crackers, cheese, pickles, and canned fruit which they 
have brought with them and which they afterward 
wish had been increased tenfold. 

It is five o’clock before they are again upon their 
way, and fifteen miles to go, bad creeks to ford, and 
tremendous hills to climb. 

Not more than three miles have been traversed 
before the horses come to a dead stop; one of them 
particularly having given entirely out and grabbing 
a mouthful of green leaves from a wayside bush, as 
if making a last effort to recover his strength. 

“ It’s of no use,” says Desbrough, who still occu- 
pies the front seat; ‘^we might as well pitch our 
tents, but as we are withot^^ tents our discomfort 
will not be in-tents.’’ 

At which the boys groan and Horton says, Des- 
brough, we can stand a great deal, but you are pil- 
ing it on a little too thick.” 


144 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


The boys all leave the hack once more, unhitch 
the horses, and this time remove the harness. 

While Jim, Norfleet, and Kenney stay to minister 
to the comforts of the poor animals as best they 
can. Cook, Horton, and Desbrough go ahead in 
search of help or a fresh team, or at least to try 
and seek some shelter for the night, which is now 
rapidly approaching. 

Two miles of brisk walking brings them to a 
ranchman’s shanty — it is nothing more, and a poor, 
miserable log one at that — where live a man and 
wife and seven children. 

An immense amount of persuasion and pleading, 
together with the promise of five dollars, finally 
secures the aid of the old man, who, as Cook says, 

looks like a moonshiner in disguise,” and they all 
return to the scene of the wreck with two little pony 
mules. 

The mules are hitched to the hack. The old man 
rides one horse, leading the other and sicker one, 
and the caravan once more moves on. 

A mile from the ranch the sick horse succumbs 
to the inevitable and is left to his fate, while the 
remainder of the party continue toward the house. 

The hearts of the boys sink as they draw near the 
hut. 

They are wet and tired, and will be hungry later 
on. Their lunch has been all eaten up, and from the 
amount of filth and general wretchedness that pre- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


145 




vails in and around the place, the outlook is any- 
thing hut encouraging. 

The woman of the house is out of sorts and does 
not hesitate to express herself in a way that makes 
their welcome reek with disappointed hopes, and 
drives their host into a network of profanity, with 
a hand-painted crimson-colored dado. 

But the old shrew^s temper softens a little when 
she is assured that the boys have already lunched 
heartily — oh, yes, ma^am — had all they wanted (four 
hours since) and do not wish supper. 

While Jim and the old man are attending to the 
hack and the remaining horse, the boys proceed to 
make their preparations for the night. 

By this time the rain comes down in torrents ; 
there is no lantern or light that the boys can carry 
with them to go and see after the sick horse, so they 
reluctantly leave him to his fate, to live or die, sink 
or swim, survive or perish,^^ as Horton quotes, and 
Kenney adds, " If he don’t swim he will sure sinks 
for the rain is little short of a flood and is up to his 
ears by this time.” 

There are three rough beds in one of the rooms, 
and these are hardly sufflcient for the accommoda- 
tion of the old man and his familj^ 

However, the bedclothes are divided and a sort 
of sleeping outfit prepared for the boys in the other 
room, which is kitchen, dining-room, and living-room 
in one. 

lO 


146 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


The five drummers and Jim retire early, for there 
are no lights— nothing hut pine-knots, which quickly 
burn out. 

Desbrough, wrapped in a horse-blanket, pounds his 
grip with his ear and wonders if they will want him 
to arise early in order to get the blanket for a table- 
cloth in the morning. 

If they do,"^ says Kenney, “ it will be an improve- 
ment on their supper, for they had nothing but pine 
boards to eat from.” 

“ Chess,” says Desbrough, please knock upon the 
door and ask the old man not to snore.” 

Desbrough, shut up and give us a chance to get 
some rest.” 

Pull down your vest and give us a rest,” muses 
Desbrough, and then breaks out again: ^^The old 
man in that room is nearing his doom. Who would 
ever suppose he’d saw wood with his nose ?” 

"You’ll near your doom if you don’t stop your 
abominable doggerel,” Korfieet says with emphasis. 

" I haven’t much time to continue my rhyme, 
and it’s well I have not, for Norfleet thinks it’s 
rot.” 

A groan escapes Kenney, which seems to amuse 
Desbrough, and he says in a sympathetic way: 
"Kow, there are not many who feel bad like Ken- 
ney,” and before any one can answer continues, 
" I wish my house could see me now.” 

" I wish it could,” says Kenney desperately, " and 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


147 


perhaps they could shut you up so the rest of us 
could sleep.^^ 

All right — good-night/^ Desbrough says good- 
naturedly. 

Boys, we must go to sleep, for there is no telling 
what to-morrow may have in store for us,’^ sa^-s 
Cook. 

“ Or what store may have us in to-morrow/’ adds 
Desbrough, and then : Geminy crickets ! hoys, 
there are four million chinches in my blanket/’ and 
striking a match he finds the blanket literally 
swarming with them. 

Well, lie still and let them eat,” says Horton. 

^ Wes, I will — NOT,” answers Desbrough. ^^What 
will we do ? We can’t lie here and be devoured in 
this manner.” 

^‘'Send for the police,” suggests Horfieet. 

‘^Cut them dead,” says Cook. 

^Wash them,” comes from Horton; but Kenney 
adds the straw which breaks the camel’s back by 
saying: 

Go in the other room and sleep with the children.” 

Jim, who up to this time has lain quite still, now 
joins in the general pow-wow and exclaims: 

^^Say, boss, I-I-Ise jus’ eaten up wid de pesky 
things.” 

There is little rest for the boys after this, and one by 
one they get up and remain up the rest of the night. 

The day is scarcely breaking ere they all go forth 


148 


AlS^GELS OF COMMEECE. 


to see how the sick horse is. It is still raining’ and 
another gloomy day is promised. They follow the 
road to where the last halt was made the night pre^ 
vious, and discover the poor animal where it had 
been left, but dead, its eyes wide open and the jaws 
firmly set, still holding the few leaves it had taken 
when in its last moments it had vainly endeavored 
to gain sufficient strength to carry its burden to the 
end of the journey. 

And so they leave it, and going back to the ranch, 
make arrangements to have it given burial and to 
get the old man to carry them on to the Springs. 

An early breakfast, horrible in its simplicity and 
filthiness, is hastily eaten, and the pony mules are 
hitched to the hack, the remaining horse fastened 
behind, and their journey pursued. 

Many times during the forenoon the boys have 
to get out and climb long, steep, rocky hills that the 
mules can scarcely drag the empty hack over, and 
once or twice all hands are called upon to push the 
cumbersome vehicle when the strength of the mid- 
gets is found unequal to the task. 

It is noon ere they get to the Springs, and having 
paid the old man an extra five dollars, they start 
him back, and then wearily bathe, eat dinner, and 
lie down to seek much-needed rest. 

In an hour or two they are up and after the trade, 
and the remainder of that day and the next is given 
to hard work. 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


149 


There is some sort of a political ratification meet- 
ing’ at the town hall the first night of their stay, 
hut the hoys are too tired to go, though they after- 
ward regret it, for they discover that four of their 
drummer friends have been stopping at the other 
hotel and have attended in a hody; not only that, 
hut have had lots of amusement. 

It seems that T. E. Steele and Walter Bullock, 
two 3mung men who are making their first country 
trip, had conceived the funny idea of passing them- 
selves off as short-hand reporters for two of the St. 
Louis daily papers, and that they industriously^ jotted 
down a lot of characters that had the appearance 
of a cross between the marking on Chinese tea- 
boxes and a flock of Shanghai chickens running after 
grasshoppers. 

They were gettipg along famously when they^ were 
approached by the committee of arrangements, who 
insisted that they come upon the stage, where they 
could hear better and be introduced to the speakers. 

Kefusals were useless, and they were dragged forth 
and for an hour forced to scribble away for dear life, 
as if intent on getting the utterances of the local 
orators word for word. 

The perspiration stood upon their brows in mas- 
sive drops and they worked like beavers to keep up 
the illusion. 

After the performance was over, they were shown 
unusual attention and all but banqueted. 


150 


AKGELS OF COMMERCE. 


They were forced to promise a full report of the 
proceedings in the great St. Louis papers, and even 
went so far as to assert that the^" would give the 
orators themselves a written copy of their speech, 
so that they could have them published verbatim in 
the county papers. 

They would deliver these copies the next after- 
noon (but they intended leaving early in the morn- 
ing, which fact they failed to announce). 

All would have been well had it not been for the 
two old-time drummers who were with them and 
who were up to their tricks. 

Ed Barton and Charlie Abbott had been watch- 
ing the proceedings with more than ordinary inter- 
est, and when they found what kind of a box the 
3mung scribes were in, they helped them out by 
giving the snap away, and Steele and Bullock con- 
cluded that as it was a fair night after the rain, with 
a half moon to light them on their way, the^^ would 
prefer to drive to. Quitman, fifteen miles away, 
rather than to stand the chance of being mobbed. 

It was to the Desbrough crowd to hear Bar- 
ton and Abbott relate this, and they more than re- 
gretted their inability to have witnessed the depar- 
ture of the knights. 

The boys find it difficult to procure a good team 
to replace the disabled one, but they are finally suc- 
cessful, and Thursday morning they start for Clin- 
ton, a thirty-mile drive. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


151 


The rain has ceased, but the roads are in a fearful 
condition, and such slow progress is made that they 
arrive at their destination too late for dinner and 
have to put up with the cold remains of what was 
originally a tough meal. 

It is now apparent that they must remain out 
over Sunday, and some little discussion takes place 
as to where and how the day will be spent. 

A portion are in favor of putting in the time 
travelling, while the majority express themselves 
for making it a day of rest. 

“We will see how far we get by Saturda}" night,^^ 
says Cook, “ and let our surroundings decide as to 
whether we remain or keep moving.’^ 

“ Yes,’^ Horton replies; “I would rather break the 
Sabbath than spend even a small portion of it as 
we did at the old man’s in the woods.” And the 
rest respond with a fervent “Amen.” 

In the evening the hack containing Henry Plum- 
mer, Gus Kutland, Bob Dashiel, and Jules Eakin 
arrives, they having picked up Sam Chew on the 
way. 

This party has already been to Quitman (the 
next town on Desbrough’s list), but they arrange 
to meet in Springfield Saturday night and spend 
Sunday together, and they also inform Desbrough 
that there will be still another hackful of drum- 
mers there, so there is promise of plenty of company. 


152 


ANGELS OE COMMENCE. 


CHAPTER XL 

A cricket sings upon the hearth, a broken child’s toy lies upon the ground, 
and nothing else remains .” — Cricket on the Hearth. 

“ And began the world. Not this world— oh, not this. The world that sets 
this night.”— .BZeafc House. 

Friday morning* the Batesville hack is on the 
road by five o^clock. 

Another gloomy day is foreshadowed, for while it 
does not rain, the sun refuses to shine and the clouds 
look threatening. 

The boys occupy the time by singing and chatting. 

Cook, who seems to be rather depressed, finally 
strikes into the refrain : 

“ ’Tis religion that can give 
Sweetest pleasures while we live. 

’Tis religion must supply 
Solid comfort when we die.” 

"There is something peculiar about religion,^’ 
says Desbrough, as the singing stops, "and yet 
there is that about it that I could never understand. 

"Xow, here is Norfleet, whom I like and who likes 
me and who helps me in all the little ways he can, 
yet he is unconverted and does not subscribe to the 
articles of our belief. Why is it that when I find a 
friend, it is nearly always among the unregenerated ? 

"Now, in that long, dark time while I was sick at 


ANGELS OE COMMERCE. 


153 


home last summer, all persons who helped me by 
encouraging and kindly words, and were first and 
last to care for me, were every time among this class, 
while among Christians I was unnoticed, or else hy 
their snubs and meanness helped (?) on to God. 

Queer, isn^t it ? One almost inquires why one’s ex- 
perience is precisely the opposite from what people’s 
professions would lead one to expect from them — 
that is, from those to whom one would naturally 
look for help and encouragement. 

They never find it. But while elbowing among 
the crowd in the grand struggle called life, one 
stumbles against a stranger who says a kind word 
and lightens the gloom up wonderfully^ ; who seizes 
a hand when you are almost ready to give up and 
helps you to your feet; who literally holds you for a 
little while, till you can get your breath. Isn’t it 
the old, old parable of the priest and Levite, who 
came and looked and passed by on the other side, 
while the nondescript Samaritan, who hadn’t 
enough saving grace to approach within shouting 
distance of Jerusalem, was the fellow of no conse- 
quence who had a heart big enough to see and take 
care of a stranger who perhaps never paid him 
hack? 

" If any church member had seen the maii they 
would have referred his case to a society of females, 
who would have called a meeting and inquired into 
the merits of the case; whether he was a member 


154 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


of their church, or where he went to divine service. 
If he hadn’t been saved from hell by their specific 
plan of salvation, they would have left him till the 
buzzards carried off his body and the ang-els his soul 
before they would have helped him; but the other, 
who stood no show of a blissful heaven an^diow, and 
had no particular church duties calling him off and 
no foreign missionary society to keep up by his con- 
tributions, could be free to squander his substance 
on the wretched stranger — if he saw fit — which he 
fortunately did. It’s a great puzzle, isn’t it? I 
don’t believe all the good people are out of the 
church and all the hj^pocrites in it, by any means; 
but there certainly are a great many good people 
out of the fold of God and lots of sticks in it. But 
God goes on the same, pure and true and good. If 
we could only nail ourselves down to that fact it 
seems as if nothing else counts.” 

Well ! ! ! I must say,” says Kenney with a long- 
drawn breath, if we can get Desbrough to preach 
for us Sunday we are fixed” 

""Hardly,” Cook rejoins. ""I don’t exactly sub- 
scribe to his doctrine, still I admit there is more or 
less truth in what he has said.” 

""Don’t misconstrue my meaning, boys,” says 
Desbrough. ""I am a church member myself. I 
simply state the argument as it has appeared to 
me many times and must appear to those who make 
no profession. I am aware that there is that in 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


155 


true religion that refines us and infiuences us only 
for good. It is the traducing of religion that I 
speak of.^’ 

Hello ! what is this ? "exclaims Horton, pointing 
to three or four buggies drawn up before a small 
but neat-looking cottage on the mountain top : a 
funeral or a wedding ? 

Whatever it is I will soon find out, for I am as 
dry as a herring and I am going to ask for a drinlV^ 
and Desbrough tells Jim to stop the horses. 

The boys all get out to join Desbrough, and com- 
ing to the cottage a sad sight meets their gaze. 

Here on this lonely mountain top, miles away 
from civilization, a young man and his wife have 
come from the North to seek whatever of health and 
fortune can be found. The first is paramount, for 
the wife is in delicate health, and they have hoped 
to find here in the soft but bracing atmosphere what 
they have failed to find in the malarial regions from 
whence they came. 

They are blessed with education and refinement, 
and the little ranch shows a degree of thrift seldom 
found in these parts. 

And now a blight has stricken their household. 
Their only child, a fair-haired, frail ^mung daughter, 
has been called away by the angel Death. 

A few neighbors have come to offer such poor 
consolation as lies within their power. No minister 
to offer a comforting word or pray for the living. 


156 


AKdELS OF COMMERCE. 


no master of ceremonies. Only a little white coffin 
brought from a far-away town, and the tears of the 
assembled few to consecrate the dead. 

The hearts of the hoys are touched, and immedi- 
ately they gather round the stricken parents and 
ask that they may he given charge of the ceremonies, 
for though there is no ordained minister among them, 
there are five as sympathetic hearts as ever lived. 

The father and mother are only too thankful for 
this token of tender sympathy from total strangers 
and gratefully accept, and presently the quintette 
—their voices full of tears— sound forth in plaintive 
melody, " Come, Ye Disconsolate,^^ and then after a 
short pause Deshrough rises and says: I would 
that I were gifted with the power of words such as 
might bring you consolation, hut I cannot find ex- 
pression for the thoughts that I would utter. There 
comes to me a passage from ^ The Light of Asia^ 
that seems at this time more appropriate than any- 
thing that I can say, and which I will repeat. 


“ ‘Whom, when they came unto the river- side, 

A woman— dove-eyed, young, with tearful face 
And lifted hand— saluted, bending low : 

“Lord ! thou art he,” she said, “who yesterday 
Had pity on me in the fig-grove here. 

Where I live lone and reared my child ; hut he 
Straying amid the blossoms found a snake. 

Which twined about his wrist, whilst he did laugh 
And tease the quick-forked tongue and opened mouth 
Of that cold playmate. But, alas ! ere long 
He turned so pale and still, I could not think 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


157 


Why he should cease to play, and let my breast 
Fall from his lips. And one said, ‘ He is sick 
Of poison ; ’ and another, ‘ He will die.’ 

But I, who could not lose my precious boy, 

Prayed of them physic, which might bring the light 
Back to his eyes ; it was so very small. 

That kiss-mark of the serpent, and I think 
It coula not hate him, gracious as he was, 

Nor hurt him in his sport. And some one said, 

‘ There is a holy man upon the hill — 

Lo ! now he passeth in his yellow robe — 

Ask of the Rishi if there be a cure 

For that which ails thy son.’ Whereon I came 

Trembling to thee, whose brow is like a god’s. 

And wept and drew the face-cloth from my babe, 
Praying thee tell what simples might be good. 

And thou, great sir ! didst spurn me not, but gaze 
With gentle eyes and touch with patient hand ; 

Then draw the face-cloth back, saying to me, 

‘ Yea ! little sister, there is that might heal 
Thee first, and him, if thou couldst fetch the thing ; 
For they who seek physicians bring to them 
What is ordained. Therefore, I pray thee, find 
Black mustard-seed, a tola ; only mark 
Thou take it not from any hand or house 
Where father, mother, child, or slave hath died ; 

It shall be well if thou canst find such seed.’ 

Thus didst thou speak, my lord.” The mother smiled 
Exceeding tenderly. “ Yea ! I spake thus. 

Dear Kisagotami ! But didst thou find 

The seed ? ” “I went, lord, clasping to my breast 

The babe, grown colder, asking at each hut — 

Here in the jungle and toward the town— 

‘ I pray you, give me mustard, of your grace, 

A tola — black ; ’ and each who had it gave. 

For all the poor are piteous to the poor ; 

But when I asked, ‘ In my friend’s household here 
Hath any peradventure ever died — 

Husband, or wife, or child, or slave ? ’ they said ; 

‘ O sister ! what is this you ask ? the dead 


158 


ANGELS OF C 031 MERCE. 


Are very many, and the living few ! ’ 

So with sad thanks I gave the mustard back, 

And prayed of others ; but the others said, 

‘ Here is the seed, but we have lost our slave ! ’ 

‘ Here is the seed, but our good man is dead ! ’ 

‘ Here is some seed, but he that sowed it died 
Between the rain-time and the harvesting ! ’ 

Ah, sir ! I could not find a single house 

Where there was mustard-seed and none had died ! 

Therefore I left my child — who would not suck. 

Nor smile— beneath the wild vines by the stream. 

To seek thy face and kiss thy feet, and pray 
Where I might find this seed and find no death, 

If now, indeed, my baby be not dead 
As I do fear, and as they said to me.” 

“ ‘ “ My sister ! thou hast found,” the master said, 

“ Searching for what none finds — that bitter balm 
I had to give thee. He thou lovedst slept 
Dead on thy bosom yesterday : to-day 
Thou know’st the whole wide world weeps with thy woe ; 
The grief which all hearts share grows less for one. 

Lo ! I would pour my blood if it could stay 
Thy tears, and win the secret of that curse 
Which makes sweet love our anguish, and >vhich drives 
O’er flowers and pastures to the sacrifice — 

As these dumb beasts are driven — men their lords. 

I seek that secret : bury thou thy child ! ” ’ 

I have repeated these lines, simply for the reason 
that they express the one great truth that the 
whole world mourns in unison with those assembled 
here, and while we cannot see just why the ones we 
love the best are taken from us, still there is some 
great purpose that the Father has in mind and uses 
for our best. 

It is a lesson for us all, and while our burdens 
grow the heavier, we have the knowledge that we 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


159 


can lean the more on Christ and He will give us 
comfort and will ever lift us up and keep us in the 
hour of sorrow.^^ 

As Desbrough finishes speaking, Norfleet, in a 
clear, rich tenor voice, begins “ Jesus, Lover of My 
Soul.” Kenney takes up the soprano and the other 
voices join in the refrain with mournful cadence. 

The scene - is affecting in the extreme, and it is 
with difficulty that the hoys can control their voices 
sufficiently to keep from breaking down. 

The song is finished, and Frank Cook, whose 
towering form and impressive manner lend dignity 
to all occasions, with a voice full of pathos rises and 
prays : 

^‘^Unto the Father and the Son we pray. Our 
Father God, Thou ruler of the universe, all hallowed 
be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done 
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day the 
sustenance we crave, and forgive our many tres- 
passes against Thy law. Guide us, Thou Great 
Jehovah, through this vale of tears and past the 
iniquitous temptations of a busy world. Deliver us 
from the toils of the destroyer of our faith, and unto 
Thee we will raise our hallelujahs, world without 
end. 

‘‘ Dear Lord, Thou who hast taken unto Thine 
own arms this little one and who hast said, ^ Of such 
My kingdom is,^ be with us yet a little while, until 
we too find rest within the gates. 


160 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


" Help these stricken ones to realize in some de- 
gree how vast Thy pity is. We know that all the 
tender sympathy within our hearts is hut the waver- 
ing image of Thy great compassion. 

“ The whole world sobs in unison with these, the 
fruition of whose lives is garnered from the bitter- 
ness of living to lie in ^ the windowless palace of rest.^ 
Unto all come days so dark that Thy dear face 
cannot be seen, and only faith can lift us up where 
we can grasp Thy hand and feel the comfort of Thy 
presence. 

/‘^Dear Lord, when life’s psalms turn to lamenta- 
tions, bear with us. We who would clasp our hands 
and hold these treasures who are so dear to us, knoAV 
little what is best, and so we pray that Thou wilt 
give us strength to bear our burdens and lift us up, 
till that great day when we may have the darkling 
glass removed from our dim eyes, and looking on 
Thy face shall understand that what has come and 
shall come is the best. Father, be merciful to these 
and unto all. Amen!” 

Once more the quintette sings : 

“ Shed kindly light amid the encircling gloom ; 

Lead, Thou, me on. 

The way is dark, and I am far from home; 

Lead, Thou, me on.” 

This ends the service as far as the boys are con- 
cerned. 

A last look is taken at the beautiful child face. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


161 


which, although the spirit has gone out, is never- 
theless a lovely mould of clay. Her flaxen curls 
form a profuse mantle for the weary head, and a 
smile only known to angels is upon her lips. 

She sleeps well, “ the dreamless sleep that knows 
no waking, no sorrow, no care. One can well im- 
agine that her spirit graces even the Great White 
Throne.^' 

The farewells over, Horton, Kenney, Korfleet, and 
Deshrough tenderly hear the little white casket to 
the vehicle that is to carry it to its last resting- 
place, while Cook goes on before, his head uncovered 
and bowed in reverential awe. 

The burial is to take place five miles away, so 
after depositing the precious burden, the hoys re- 
turn and hid farewell to the stricken ones, and as 
hand clasps hand, there is a mutual understanding 
which words cannot express, hut which bodes bless- 
ings from these parents which must go through all 
time. 

So they separate, perhaps never to meet again 
upon this earth, but with the knowledge that in 
earth or heaven a meeting will result in quick and 
cordial greeting. 

The hoys now pursue their journe}^, but the re, 
mainder of their drive is spent in almost utter silence 
each busy with his own thoughts, and when any 
word is spoken, it is in a sort of muffled tone, for the 
memory of the child has left its influence with them 

II 


162 


ANaELS OE COMMERCE. 


and makes them more gentle with each other and 
with the world. 

Even Deshrough, usually hilarious under all cir- 
cumstances, has quieted down, and when he speaks 
at all, does so in hushed and reverent tones. 

It is not until after supper at Quitman and they 
are sitting around a bright and cheerful fire that 
they recover somewhat their natural spirits. 

As they have arrived too late to do any work, 
they retire early so as to be up soon in the morning 
and get through with the town and awaj" for Spring- 
field, for it is a drive of thirty or forty miles, and 
past experience tells them that it behooves them to 
be up and doing. 

They make remarkably good time, however, and 
by nine o’clock on Saturday are started. 

Rosebud, some four miles distant, is hastily worked, 
and b}^ one o’clock in the afternoon they drive into 
Greenbrier, where they stop for dinner. 

The hack containing Henry Plummer, Gus Rut- 
land, Bob Dashiel, Sam Chew, and Jules Eakin is 
already there and the boys go to dinner together, 
all excepting Gus Rutland. 

The landlord is a very strict church member and 
insists always that his patrons be seated for their 
meals, and all there, so he can ask a blessing. 

Anything in the way of levity would not be toler- 
ated for an instant. 

He always commences in a high key and runs 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


163 


from a falsetto tenor to a deep bass, always pro- 
nouncing* the same words. 

O Lord ! make us truly thankful for the bless- 
ings we are about to receive. Now, 3mung gentlemen, 
help yourselves. What we have is good enough for 
us and will have to do for you.’^ 

Rutland is something of a giggler, and having 
been there before and b^^ his snickering disgraced 
himself, is afraid, with so man^^ drummers present, 
that he will bring contumely upon himself, so he en- 
treats the boys to go on in and leave him to follow 
after the blessing is over. 

Rutland — or Rutledge, as the old man persists in 
calling him — is consequently^ conspicuous by his ab- 
sence. 

But the old man has in some way overlooked him, 
and as the rest seat themselves inquires if all are 
present. 

All but Rutland,^’ say^s Dashiel. I don’t think 
he has been called.” 

^^To be sure! To be sure!” the old man ex- 
claims. I had quite forgotten him.” And going to 
the door calls, “Mr. Rutledge! Mr. i^i^^ledge! ” and 
Gus failing to respond, the old man goes after him 
and Rutland comes sneakingly in. As is to be ex- 
pected, he “ te-he’s ” when Divine Providence is in- 
voked, but hides it with a cough, which causes 
Dashiel to remark as the old man finishes: 

“ Gus, you must be more prompt in future,” which 


164 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


commonplace remark is g-reeted witli laug’hter and 
cheers as a vent to the surcharged feelings of those 
present, hut which the old man neither understands 
nor appreciates. 

After dinner everybody works for an hour, and 
then both hacks start for Springfield, and at eleven 
o’clock that night draw up to the country inn that 
is to shelter them over Sunday. Here the hack 
containing John T. King, Boh Fones, Tom Burrows, 
and Billy Lyons has preceded them and the boj^s 
are in bed. The hotel has but four spare beds, and 
it takes considerable manoeuvring to parcel the occu- 
pants so that there may be enough sleeping accom- 
modations to go round. 

They sleep three in a bed, Desbrough on an old 
lounge, and Dashiel stretched in a comfortable chair 
before the fire. 

The boys manage to get through the night some- 
how and, being uncomfortable, are only too glad to 
rise early, which, as Fones remarks, “ will be a good 
thing, as they will be in time for church, while if 
there were plenty of bed room, some might feel 
tempted to sleep through service.” 

""Which is just what I was thinking of doing,” 
says Lyons. "" After you boys leave I will take a 
rest.” 

"" You will do nothing of the kind, Billy,” says Tom 
Burrows. "" Everybody goes to church to-day — hey, 
Desbrough ? ” 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


165 


"" That’s my ticket,” says Desbrough. 

Those of the party desiring to attend church are 
so far in excess of those wishing to remain at home 
that it is useless to demur or argue the question, 
and presentlj^ it is decided that every one shall go, 
and shortly after breakfast they are on their way. 

They are too early for church, but the Sabbath- 
school is only just begun, so they go in to listen to 
the exercises. There are thirteen of the boys and 
they quite fill two seats. 

They join heartily in the singing and evidently 
make an impression, for presently the superin- 
tendent comes to them and inquires if there are any 
present who will address the school. 

Desbrough, in a spirit of bizarre levity, suggests 
Deacon Perry Horton, but that worthy emphatic- 
ally declines, explaining that although he may make 
a good deacon in an Uncle Tom’s Cabin troupe, he 
is in no wise given to spontaneous oratory, espe- 
cially on occasions of this kind. 

It seems apparent for a time that none of the 
boys will consent, and the superintendent is about 
to retire disheartened, when Cook, who never fails 
to come to the rescue at the proper moment, asks 
Sam Chew to accommodate the school by telling 
what he knows of Sunday-school work. 

How, Sam is a lawyer as well as a drummer, and 
has stumped the State more than once in the cause 
of Democracy, 


166 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


He is a staunch Democrat and is in his element 
when talking* politics; has no little reputation as 
a public speaker, but only as political one. 

Addressing Sunday-schools is not his forte by any 
means. So now, although he reluctantly consents, 
he is not at all sure of his theme and becomes con- 
siderably rattled as he takes the rostrum. 

At first, gazing into space, his mind seems to be 
nowhere at all, but he finally recovers sufficiently to 
say: 

“It is with the greatest of pleasure and some 
misgiving that I arise to-day to address jmu, but I 
must confess that I am as barren of ideas as an edi- 
tor. I hardly know what I can say, still as I do not 
believe in making a talk without saying something, 
I will take for my theme the elucidation of thought 
in connection with the centralization of the imagi- 
nation, if you know what that is. And if I fail to 
keep to my subject, it will be from want of ideas 
and not from any premeditated intention. 

“ As I gaze upon this wide, open, boundless sea of 
faces — I say as I see upon these boundless wide- 
open faces — that is, as I face this wide-open bound- 
less gaze, I look upon this sea and see your bound- 
less faces wide open. If this were not true I 
should not have thought of it. 

“ Children, did you ever stop to think how much 
older you are than when you were a great deal 
younger ? 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


167 


“Now, I am a great deal older than you, but 
otherwise I am about the same. I still have the 
use of my faculties to a great degree, though I am 
thirstier than I used to be, and require more exhila- 
rating beverages than the licorice water and whitish 
tea of my childhood, thus warning me that old age 
is creeping on apace — or even two paces. 

“Now, children, if you live long enough you will 
be as old as I am to-day; otherwise you will not be 
so old as you would be if you lived longer. 

“ As for myself, I know I have not lived all the 
years of my life as well as I should have done had 
I lived them better. Still it warms my aged heart 
to think that I have lived them better than I should 
have done had I lived them worse. So I feel com- 
forted, and, like the cheerful traveller, take my 
way singing beside the hedge. 

“ It being an unusual occasion, I trust you will 
forgive my dropping into poetry and Mrs. Browning 
just this once. 

“ These beautiful thoughts are mainly original and 
are, I think, exceptionally fine, and worthy of the 
occasion which inspires them. Take them home to 
your own hearts, and when your feet tread those dis- 
tant paths toward which they are tending, and when 
you reach the goal which I am about passing, you 
may be able to voice like elevated sentiments and 
feel as satisfied with your moral edifice as I do to- 
day. 


168 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


" And now, dear children, as I stand here looking* 
backward into the future, I can see from what I have 
experienced in the past that if you do not live in such 
manner that you become good men and women, 
some of you will be bad. This is not only true of 
all I see before me, but of a /Z of you. 

The future is before you. If it were behind you 
it would be different. 

As I have said before, I am glad to see so many 
pleasant faces here to-da3^ Some of the happiest 
moments of my life have been spent in the society 
of little girls after they have grown to womanhood. 

^^And now, in closing, I want to impress upon 
your minds that I am a Democrat born and bred 
and dyed in the wool — metaphorically speaking, you 
understand — and unless you repent and believe and 
flee from the wrath to come and from the Republi- 
can and sinner ranks and join the great unwashed 
Democracy, there is less chance of your getting to 
heaven than there is for a Waterbury v/atch to keep 
chronometer time. 

I hope that what I have said may sink deep into 
your hearts and that my warning may not have 
come too late.” 

And Sam takes his seat, having produced a sen- 
sation in the Republican ranks. 

Strange to say, the superintendent does not re- 
quest any of the rest to address the school, but hur- 
ries through to the close, evidently fearing that the 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


169 


boys will turn his religious exercises into a political 
meeting. 

After Sunday-school the boys remain to church 
and listen for an hour and a half to a withering at- 
tack on sin and the English grammar by one whose 
proper mission in life is picking cotton or mauling 
rails, and shortly after noon they return in an ex- 
hausted condition to the hotel. 


170 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


CHAPTER XIL 


“ Within an hour it will be dinner-time.” — Shakespeare. 

Ip there is any one thing- more than another that 
will put a person in good humor, it is a clean, well- 
cooked, appetizing meal, and this is exactly what 
the hoys find when, an hour later, they seat them- 
selves at dinner. 

Springfield is not hy any means a had place to 
Sunday y especially when you have good company. 

Jolly companions and plent3^ to tempt the palate 
naturally lead the company into a gormandizing 
condition, and ere they realize it they are uncom- 
fortahle from excess of eating. 

The afternoon is spent in lounging, napping, 
reading, singing, smoking— anything to pass the 
time aw’ay, and unconsciously they drift into the 
usual reminiscences of road life. 

“ Will May was up the road last spring,” says 
Billy Lyons, " and stopped at a hotel where every- 
thing was as neat and clean as it is here, hut there 
was not much to eat — sort of a ‘ turnip greens ^ din- 
ner. 

^^Now, Will isn’t over-fond of a vegetable diet, 
and the moment he heheld the lay-out his heart 


AT^GELS OF COMMEECE. 


171 


sank within him, and as his hopes went down his 
nose went up correspondingly. There were turnip 
greens, snap beans, beets, radishes, green corn, 
onions, and lettuce; the only meat served being the 
pork boiled in with the greens. 

The madam went around trying to make every 
one comfortable, but with Will she failed utterly. 

Finally, noticing that he ate nothing but bread 
and butter, the good old lady said, " Mr. May, canT 
I help you to something ? ^ 

"^Well, yes,^ he replied shortly: ^you maj^ pass 
me the pepper and salt and I will go out on the lawn 
and graze/” 

I donT believe you have the papers for tha 
says Fones. 

Indeed I have, for I was there. Will May is just 
the man to say such a thing if he felt like it. Say, 
where is Tom Ledbetter now ? 

Quit the road and gone into business for him- 
self.;’ 

I am mighty sorry to hear it,’’ Desbrough says, 
for he was one of a thousand, a rattling good sales- 
man and one of the best of travelling companions. 
Kenney, do you remember our trip to Waldron ?” 

Do I ? I should say I did. We had lots of fun. , 
Something had happened every day to put us back, 
but the meanest thing Desbrough ever did was on 
that trip.” 

Yes,” says Desbrough, I acknowledge it turned 


172 


ANGELS OB’ COMMEKCE. 


out to be a sort of low-clown trick, but was entirely 
unintentional/^ 

“Your practical jokes usually are” retorts 
Kenney, and then resumes: 

“We had only started for a two-days^ tour, so 
took no lugg’ag'e or extra clothes with us. We 
g-radually extended our trip until we were out alto- 
g-ether five days. Desbrough wasn^t with us when 
we first started (Maurice Richardson, Tom Ledbet- 
ter, and I were in a surrey together), but he met us 
in Mansfield by appointment, then we drove to 
Waldron, and that night stopped at the Wilson 
Hotel. The hotel is on the second floor over two or 
three store-rooms, and in front has a balcony with- 
out railing, on which we used to sit and cool our 
heels until we were sleepy enough to retire. That 
night we were up till late, and when we did retire 
slept two in a bed — Desbrough and I together. After 
we were all settled for the night, Desbrough, with 
his usual thoughtfulness, remarked that his grip 
was filled with all the late papers which he had 
bought on the train that morning— 8 1 . Louis Re- 
puhliCy Globe-Democrat, Puck, Judge, and the Fort 
Smith papers. With that we all piled out, with the 
exception of Desbrough, and lighting the lamp, 
started to read.’^ 

“ Yes,’" Desbrough interrupts, “instead of waiting 
till morning. The consequence was I got tired of 
sleeping all alone with my eyes held open by the 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


173 


bright light, so I got up too. I tried to wait pa- 
tiently, but they seemed bent on an all-night seance, 
so I amused myself in other ways.” 

“Which means,” says Kenney, “that he espied 
our socks carefully arranged to air, and taking the 
tongs, he put on an injured air and swore he could 
not sleep in the same room with the offensive foot- 
gear, and so he removed them to the balcon^^ in 
front, one pair at a time. 

“Kow comes the mean part of it. In the night a 
tremendous storm came up, and the unoffending 
hose were blown to the four corners of the earth, or 
at least to the middle of the street, where the rain 
everlastingly deluged them and filled them with 
mud. 

“The next morning when we awoke and looked 
for them, Desbrough quietly informed us that they 
were airing on the balcony, and we rushed out, only 
to see them sticking up here and there in the muddy 
street. We foraged the town, but not a sock could 
we find that we could wear, and for three days fol- 
lowing we went without, wearing only our shoes on 
our feet. And Desbrough tried to make it pleasant 
for us by saying in the language of ' Samuel of Posen ^ 
every little while, ^ Almost eferypody vears stock- 
ings." ” 

“ Maurice Kichardson was the greatest sufferer,” 
says Desbrough as Kenney finishes, “ for he was used 
to wearing socks and couldn’t very well get along 


174 


AKGELS OF COMMEECE. 


without them. But say, boys, what a graphic de- 
scription Kenney has given us.” 

Yes, and it was a graphic time,” Kenney retorts. 

As Desbrough says, Maurice Kichardson was the 
greatest sufferer, not because he was used to wear- 
ing hosiery more than the rest, but his feet were 
unusually tender and he was just ^ breaking in ’ a 
new pair of shoes.” 

«pm going to Waldron again the latter part of 
this week. Kenney, come and go with me.” 

No, I thank you. If I did I would take a trunk 
with plenty of clothes.” 

I didn't know you had a trunk with plenty of 
clothes.” 

I haven ’ and so must decline your kind invita- 
tion.” 

" By the way, Sam,” says Henry Plummer, that 
was a fine address you gave us to-day.” 

Yes. Wasn't it a daisy ? ” 

^^Did you compose that all b3^ ^murself?” asks 
Eakin. 

He wasn't very composed himself when he gave 
it to us,” Desbrough remarks. 

“ Seems to me,” says Barrows, "that he got the 
"publicans and sinners' terribly mixed with the 
-Republicans and Democrats.” 

" I'll tell you, boys,” Sam says in an explanatory^ 
way, "" I was never rattled before, and wouldn't have 
been this time, only I knew nothing about religion 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


175 


and couldn^t, for the life of me, think of a passage 
of Scripture to quote or anything appropriate to say. 
Now, if it had been a political convention Td have 
surprised you.” 

"You did as it was,” says Plummer, "but I will 
say this much for you : your talk was more enter- 
taining and instructive than that of the old dilapi- 
dated windbag that held us enthralled for an hour 
and a half after you finished.” 

"Yes, I felt quite relieved, after hearing him, to 
think I had done so well.” 

" I will say this for Sam,” says Burrows : " I have 
heard him deliver as fine an address before a Demo- 
cratic gathering as I ever heard in any place.” 

" Give him a dollar, Sam,” says King, " for he is 
trying to save your reputation.” 

" Pve a six-year-old boy at home,” says Desbrough 
"that could beat Sam^s effort to-day.” 

" By the way, how are those boys ? Been getting 
into any deviltry lately ? ” 

"They havenT been doing anything else. The 
last time I was home I wanted to use my wheel- 
barrow for something, and when I went after it, 
found that some one had sawed one of the handles 
off, close up. So I called the boys, and pointing to 
the handleless barrow, inquired if they knew any- 
thing about it Chess, with a frankness that is one 
of the family traits, said: ^ Well, sir — you — see, we 
boys have a base-ball club and Phil is e??ipire, 


176 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


and ’ ' Yes/ I interrupted, 'and you sawed off 

the handle of a two-dollar wheelbarrow to make a 
ten-cent bat, did you ? ^ 

" ' Yes, sir. Are you going* to whip me ? ^ 

"I felt that I ought to; but, like George Wash- 
ington^’s father, I could only commend him for tell- 
ing the truth, coupled with a warning that if he 
ever did such a thing again, Td whip him within an 
inch of his life.^^ 

"I can imagine Desbrough whaling his boj^s 
within an inch of their lives. Did you ever whip one 
of them, George ? ” Horton asks. 

" Did I ? Well I should say I had. Why, only a 
day or two before I left home I whipped Phil until 
he cried out ' most demnibly.'’ 

" He. would do that if you pointed your finger at 
him. What was the row ? 

" He was impudent to his mother. I draw the 
line at that. They can do a great many naughty 
things that I can pass over, for I was a boy once 
myself ; but they canT sass their mother and asso- 
ciate with me.^^ 

"You had your wife and children with you one 
trip this fall, didnT you ? asks Dashiel. 

"Yes — in September. They were out with me 
for a month.^^ 

" DidnT they get awfully tired ? 

" Tired ! Why, when my money ran out and I 
had to turn them loose and send them home, I could 


Al^^GELS OF COMMERCE. 


177 


hardly drive them away with a club. They were 
enchanted with drummer life and wanted to get 
lines of samples and start right out. I doiiT wonder, 
either, for we met a good many of the hoys on our 
trip, and they showed us every attention and did 
everything in their power to make it pleasant. Sid 
Able was with us the whole trip.^^ 

^^What! Sid Able that played Little Harry in 
Uncle Tom^s Cabin 

" There is only one Sid Able that I know of” says 
Desbrough reprovingly, at which they all laugh. 

My wife and I and the two kids were in a surrey, 
and Sid had a two-horse bugg^^ Coming over the 
mountain from Magazine to Chisumville, a hard 
thunder-shower overtook us. It was late in the 
afternoon when we started, and it looked for a time 
as if we were destined to spend the night on the 
mountain top. 

Something was said about wild cats, tigers, and 
lions at which Phil became very brave all of a 
sudden, and remarked that nothing would please 
him better than to ^ encounter^ all kinds of wild 
beasts. ‘Yes,^I said, ^they would just naturally 
eat you up in about one mouthful.^ ^Huh! Pd twist 
their legs off if they came at me,^ he replied. ‘ Why, 
Phil,^ his mother said, ^ a lion is four or five times as 
big as you are. You might as well talk of twisting 
one of the horse^s legs off.^ ^ Well, I could do it/ he 

replied with great bravado, and in spite of all argu- 
12 


.178 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


ment he insisted that he could protect us all if 
necessity required. 

The next day Sid Able took Phil in with him, 
and coming through the woods as you turn from 
the Fort Smith road to go to Charleston, Sid’s horses 
became unmanageable and started to run away. 
They dashed off at a hreak-neck speed and Phil 
tried to climb out at the hack, while he yelled lus- 
tily, ^ Mamma! mamma!!’ I saw that Sid would 
he able to get the horses under control, so I ^^elled 
for Phil to climb out and twist the horses’ legs. 

“1 asked him afterward why he didn’t do it and 
he replied that it was his intention to do it all the 
time, and he called his mother, not because he was 
scared — oh, no — but he wanted her to see him do it. 
‘Phil,’! inquired solemnly, ^ did you ever hear of 
Ananias?’ ^Used to go to school with him,’ he re- 
plied imperturbably,' and I gave up in despair. I 
afterward learned that he had had a schoolmate by 
the name of Andy Tobias!” 

"Did you get to Chisumville all right that night 
of the storm ? ” 

"Yes. It rained cats and dogs, and lightning 
cross-fired until I thought it would get us sure, but 
we had a splendid team and they brought us through 
all right. We didn’t get to Chisumville until nearly 
nine o’clock, however, and had to have supper cooked 
after our arrival. Fay and Sam Chew were there, 
and as thej^ had only preceded us a few moments 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


179 


we all ate supper together. If you have ever been 
to Chisumville and stopped at Mrs. Williams^ you 
will remember a cross dog of the pure mongrel breed 
that snaps and snarls at every one on the slightest 
provocation. He always takes his place directly 
under the table at meal-time, and woe to any one 
who moves a foot in his direction. 

" My wife sat next to Fay and started the ball 
rolling — or dog rather — by stepping on the whelp’s 
tail. He flew into a passion and ran against Fay’s 
feet, and Fay very naturally tried to get out of his 
way and nearly had a fit in doing so. Do you re- 
member it, Sam ? ” 

Indeed I do, and also that your wife and I after- 
ward got into a very hot discussion about politics.” 

In which she did you up, metaphorically speak- 
ing; but I can’t see what connection that had with 
the dog-flght.” 

It was the dog that started the discussion,” an- 
swers Sam. And before Desbrough can ask him 
how, some one proposes a walk and they all start 
out. 

The evening is so pleasant that they extend their 
walk till supper-time, and then, after a hurried 
luncheon. Burrows, King, Fones, and Lyons drive 
to Plummerville, twelve miles away, rather than to 
endure another night three in a bed. 

It is a little late when the rest retire, and later 
still when they arise next morning; but there is 


180 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


little to do and they rustle through so as to go to 
Morrilton before night. 

After Desbrough finishes his work he looks around 
to find the rest and see how soon they will finish. 

He finds Jules Eakin lying on his back on a 
counter in a grocery store, his head pillowed on a 
pile of jeans, and as Desbrough enters and is intro- 
duced, Jules says to the proprietor: 

^^Now, Jim,, what can I sell you ? ” 

"Nothing at all. I am full up, Jules, or at least 
have as many goods as I can pay for, and as many 
as my trade demands.” 

"Pshaw!” Jules replies contemptuously, "you 
know better, Jim. You’re just suffering for goods,” 
and Jules gets out his order-book preparatory to 
taking Jim’s order. 

" Jules, I tell you I don’t want a thing. If I did 
I’d buy it.” 

"You would, eh? George, look into that barrel 
and see how much sugar he has.” 

Desbrough lifts the cover and reports only about 
one -fourth of a barrel. 

" Huh I and he said he didn’t need anything. I’ll 
just put down a barrel of sugar.” And suiting the 
action to the word he puts it down. 

" Is that all the coffee you have ? ” pointing to a 
dozen packages of roasted coffee on one of the shelves. 

"Yes.” And Eakin puts down a case of 100 

K 

pounds of coffee. 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


181 


" How much soda have you, Jim ?” 

" About forty pounds.” 

ril just put you down for three cases more. Now 
what else do you want ? ” 

Well, as long’ as you are going to ship that any- 
how,” says Jim, you may as well put me in a box 
of raisins, a barrel of beans, and a box of lemons.” 

‘^s that all, Jim?” 

Yes, that’s all and more than I want.” 

All right. Much obliged, Jim. Come on, 
George,” and Eakin and Desbrough go out together. 

"Jules,” says Desbrough when they are on the 
outside, " it’s a wonder that that man didn’t kick 
you out. I would have done so.” 

"Yes, and nine men out of every ten would too; 
but Jim likes to be bulldozed. You must take hu- 
man nature as you find it, George, and work it ac- 
cordingly.” 

"Yes, that is true to a certain extent, but that 
was the cheekiest transaction I ever saw.” 

" Now here is a man,” says Eakin as they ap- 
proach another store, " that you have to be just as 
polite to as you do rude to others. Any kind of a 
break with him would result in the loss of his trade.” 

As they enter, Eakin introduces Desbrough and 
then proceeds to say : 

" Mr. Campbell, I met your wife and little girl at 
Mount Nebo last week. What a beautiful child you 
have ! She will sure make a lovely woman.” 


182 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


“Yes,” Mr. Campbell replies, “of course we think 
so. She is our only child.” 

“Well, I was certainly surprised when I saw how 
lovely she had g'rown and how bright she was. I 
didn^t suppose there was as bright a child in Ar- 
kansas. Why, George,” turning to Desbrough, “ she 
plays on the piano beautifully and has such a glori- 
ous voice for a child. She isn't over ten years old.” 

“Only nine,” Mr. Campbell interposes, his face 
beaming with pleasure. 

“ Only nine ! ” Eakin ejaculates. “ W ell, I declare ! 
How is your stock of groceries, Mr. Campbell ? ” 

“ I reckon it's pretty full, but I'll see if I can't get 
you up a little order.” And Mr. Campbell com- 
mences to look around, taking a hurried invoice of 
his stock, and eventually gives Eakin a nice order. 

“ Such is life ! ” says Desbrough as they leave the 
store. 

“How come in one more place and then I am 
done,” says Eakin. 

“ I should like to, but I can't,” Desbrough replies, 
“ for here comes Frank Cook and I guess he is ready 
to start.” 

This proves to be the case, and leaving Eakin and 
his party to follow, the Batesville hack is soon under 
way for Morrilton. 

The ride is uneventful. Jim, the driver is, to take 
the hack back from Morrilton and expresses regret 
at having to leave such good-natured drummers. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


183 


But Desbroug'h remarks the best of friends must 
part, and hopes Jim will bear it like a man and not 
g'ive way to strong* drink. 

" Hain^t any strong drink to give way to, boss,^^ 
Jim replies sententiously. 

Then you will likely get home all right. I won- 
der how many boys there are at Morrilton ? Speer 
keeps a good hotel and there are generally from a 
dozen to twenty stopping there.^^ 

When the^^ arrive, however, they find that Des- 
brough’s estimate is a good deal out of the way. 

Gabe Bloch is there and Alex Shelby. They can 
see them as they drive up, and afterward Ham 
Churchill, Walter Myrick, and John Maffit come in 
from somewhere in town, and this completes the list 
on the register of the guests for that day. 

After hand-shaking and a few introductions are 
gone through with, Alex Shelby rather insists that 
Gabe Bloch shall sing his latest song, for the delec- 
tation of those present, and Gabe, good-naturedly 
(he does everything good-naturedly) leads the way 
to the parlor and piano, and in the way peculiar to 
himself — the only Gabe — sings: 

“ When I am dead and gone from you, poison face, 

When I am no longer on the earth, 

You’ll be sorry that you played me for a sucker, 

And robbed me of every cent I’m worth. 

But the time will surely come to you, freckle face. 

When on the earth I am no longer living. 

Scrape the snow off with a shovel. 


184 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


You ugly old Tomala^ 

And decorate my grave with turkey-breasts on Thanks- 
giving. 

“ You’re as beautiful as a catfish, tousle-headed Jane ; 
Red-headed, cross-eyed, freckled, turn-toed too, 

But I loved you with a love that was not earthly love, 

And blew in all my salary on you. 

But that time has passed away long -since, old lop-eared 
Jane, 

And when within the silent grave I lie. 

Mow the grass down with a shovel, 

You elongated old Wienerwurst, 

And decorate my grave with fire-crackers Fourth of July. 

“ You’ll remember when we first met. 

Wall-eyed, moon-faced Jane — 

How you told me that you loved no one but me. 

Then you placed your canvas-covered hand in mine and 
cried. 

While the crosS-eyed tears ran down your back in glee ; 
Though your teeth were false and feet not mates, I thought 
you true, ' 

But all I ask, now I am out of this muss. 

Is that you will please remember 
The last days of December, 

And decorate my grave with cranberry sauce on Christmas.” 

Gabe,” says Myrick as the song* is finished, 
where on earth did you get that song ? . ’ 

Made it up, principall3\ All my songs are orig- 
inal.” 

This is true to a great extent. 

Gabe sits down and sings doggerel for hours at a 
time, composing as he goes along. 

He is a great favorite of Desbrough's, and both 
are sorry bo learn that their meeting will be only 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


185 


for a few hours at best, for Gabe is g’oing* to Little 
Rock, while Desbrough has to go up the road toward 
Fort Smith. 

However, they make the most of their time, and 
after supper the two play partners in a game of high 
five against Myrick and Maffit, and manage to get 
beaten so badly that Desbrough retires and gives 
his place to Alex Shelby, who succeeds better and 
retires with honors. 

While the game is in progress. Ham Churchill 
comes in considerably out of temper and proceeds 
to roast Maflat because that gentleman has been 
telling one of his customers that Ham is a great 
cutter in his line of business. 

What if he does 9 Shelby says. " If your cus- 
tomers find out that you are a cutter, they will all 
wait for you.” 

That isnT the idea,” Ham replies ; it is the fact 
that Maffit leads them to think that I can afford 
to cut because my goods are inferior to his.” 

"Well, thaFs a serious charge. Why donT you 
make liim prove it ? ” 

" He does prove it. ThaFs what makes me so 
mad” 

At this they all laugh heartily and Ham cannot 
help joining in. 

The evening is far advanced and they are talking 
of retiring ere the other hack comes in, bringing 
Eakin and his crowd. 


186 


ANGELS OP COMMERCE. 


The next day — for the first time since leaving 
Texarkana — Horton and Deshrough start out alone, 
but they are not alone for long*. The train stops at 
Russellville twenty minutes for dinner, and as the 
two get off they meet three of Desbrough’s friends, 
all shoe drummers: E. L. Goodbar, Ed Shelby, and 
J. M. Sloan. 

As Desbrough introduces Sloan to Horton he adds : 
He is the prince of shoe drummers in Arkansas, a 
man of such high principle and sound integrity that 
he is very frequently taken for me, and vice versa,^^ 
“ I suppose Mr. Sloan appreciates the honor ” 
says Horton. 

Yes. It must be quite refreshing,^^ says Good- 
bar, to lose one’s identity sometimes, even though 
you are taken for a tough” 

Meaning which one ? questions Sloan. 

That must be a hit at you, J. M.,” says Des- 
brough, for Goody here being a competitor (in a 
sort of way— that is, he sells shoes, though no two 
of them are mates), wouldn’t dare to sass me” 
"'Well,” says Shelby, who is an immense great 
big fellow, towering over his brother drummers like 
a behemoth (he is not ungainly or fleshy, but very 
tall and heavy set), " well! I guess perhaps all of us 
together can lick Goodbar if we stand together.” 

Goodbar is the smallest man in the crowd and 
replies: " I’m a runner but no fighter. By the way, 
what time does the train go to Dardeiielle ? ” 


AlSfGELS OF COMMERCE. 


187 


"Want to escape, hey ^ It cloirt go till it comes 
in/^ says Desbrougli. 

"Are you going to Dardenelle, George?” 

"No. Horton and I will go to Ozark on the 
freight to-night and try to catch the passenger in 
the morning for Fort Smith.” 

" All right. We will go with you as far as 
Ozark,” says Shelby. " Sloan and I are going to 
Magazine and Waldron from there.” 

" ThaFs our ticket, only we were going to make 
it from Fort Smith,” says Horton, and then asks: 
"How does it happen that you two shoe drummers 
travel together ? ” 

" Just as it does that there are three of us here. 
We each have our special customers. Say, boys, 
come and go with us from Ozark. We can send 
our trunks in a wagon and all go together in a 
hack.” 

" I don^t know as we can, Ed. You see, our mail 
is in Fort Smith, and we are anxious to hear from 
home.” 

You can have that forwarded,” says Sloan. "I 
wish you would come with us.” 

"Well, we will see; there may be some one else 
at Ozark that will want to go and you can get up 
a load without us.” 

" Maybe we can get up two loads,” says Shelby. 
"Laurence Branch went to Ozark yesterday and 
intends making this trip, I know. John Oliver is 


188 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


already back in the country somewhere, I think, and 
Skipworth also/^ 

^‘No, Skip is in Fort Smith,^^ says Sloan. 

" But we want you two to go with us, anyhow, and 
if there are others there, we can either take them 
in our hack or get up another load.” 

^^Here comes the Dardenelle train,” ejaculates 
Goodbar. 

" Hello ! ” Desbrough exclaims, they have a new 
engine.” 

Yes, they had to get a new one. The old one 
ran so slow that the cows licked all the grease from 
the axle boxes,” Goodbar replies. 

With this engine they can run from one end of 
the road to the other,” says Shelby, in an hour.” 

Wonderful! for the road is four miles in length. 
But come. Let’s go over and see who came in.” 

" Hello I Lyon,” calls Sloan. 

" Who is that — not a brother of Billy Lyon, is 
it ? ” asks Horton. 

^^hTo. Lyon Saunders,” and as Lyon comes up: 
“ Mr. Saunders, Mr. Horton.” The boys now go to 
dinner together and later on to work, so as to get 
through before the evening freight. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


189 


CHAPTER XIIL 


“You’ll go with us ? ” 

“ I’ll attend my lordship.” 

“Nay, come, let’s go together.” 

“ Well, my lord.”— Cymbeimc. 

The boys fail to get a freight that night, the train 
having been abandoned, so they have to wait till 
the following noon for the regular passenger. 

Sam Chew lives in Ozark and has come from 
Morrilton on this train, on his way home, and as 
Desbrough boards the train he speaks to him and 
goes forward to the smoking-car. 

Returning presently, he seats himself directly in 
front of where Chew and Lyon Saunders are holding 
a heated political discussion. 

Noticing that Desbrough fails to speak to Chew, 
Saunders takes it for granted that they are unac- 
quainted and proceeds to introduce them, at which 
Chew winks at Desbrough, looks in a threatening 
manner, and says savagely: 

Desbrough ! Yes, Pve heard of him before," and 
then: ArenT you the man, sir, that insulted me in 
the parlor at Charlie Goode’s, in Magnolia, some 
three months ago, when ladies were present and 
made it impossible for me to resent it ? " 


190 


ANGELS OF' COMMEKCE. 


And looking* at him quietly, but fiercely, Desbrough 
replies : 

I reckon, sir, I am the man.” 

"Well,” says Sam, rising, "Tve been looking for 
you ever since, in order to have satisfaction, and now 
I will have it. Prepare yourself.” 

At this Saunders says hurriedly : " Gentlemen, for 
goodness’ sake wait a moment. I think this can 
be explained.” 

"No, sir!!” thunders Sam. "No explanation 
will save him from the worst drubbing he ever 
had.” 

" But you are both friends of mine,” Saunders 
insists, " and Pll be blamed if I will see you fight.” 

" Then you’d better leave, for fight we will,” Sam 
replies as he leaves his seat and advances toward 
Desbrough, who still sits quietly and says : 

" Let him come on, Lyon. I’ll fix him,” and as 
Sam makes a lunge and a frantic effort to clutch 
Desbrough by the throat, Desbrough rises to his 
feet, and with blood in his eye pretends to reach for 
his revolver. 

At this Sam hesitates, and turning to the rest of 
the boys exclaims: 

" Has any one got a gun they’ll lend me ? ” Saun- 
ders cries out despairingly: "Gentlemen, stop a 
moment!” 

This is too much for Desbrough, who bursts into 
a roar, and he and Sam shake hands, while Des- 


ANGELS OE COMMEKCE. 


191 


brough explains: Lyon, Tve known Sam Chew for 
twenty years/^ 

Well,” says Lyon, why didn’t you speak to him, 
then, when you first came in ?” 

"I had already spoken before I went to the 
smoker.” 

I thought you took it very quietly,” says Saun- 
ders, and the rest of the boys here too.” 

“ Why, if we’d been in earnest,” says Desbroug-h, 

I’d have mashed that old white plug* hat of his 
down over his face when he made his first break.” 

Joe Duncklin, the conductor, who has entered the 
car at the first, and has been a silent witness to it 
all, now comes forward and says : 

I guess I’ll punch you both.” 

All right,” says Sam, for Ozark.” 

'‘1 thought for a time I’d have to call in my 
brakeman and put you both out, ’’says Dunck. 

Looked pretty cloudy.” 

Why didn’t you rush forward and rescue me ?” 
Desbrough inquires. 

I’m no hook-and-ladder company.” 

I supposed all conductors were members of the 
hook and ladder company.” 

"That is,” Duncklin questions, "you think we 
throw all we collect at a ladder and then hook all 
that goes through ? ” 

" Oh, no ! not exactly that ; but I’ve noticed fre- 


192 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


quently that when a passenger refused to pay his 
fare, you hook on to him and make him chink.” 

Oh, yes! but that is simply engineering the 
department,” and Dunck passes on to hold up the 
rest of the passengers. 

At Ozark the boys are disappointed to find that 
Laurence Branch has already left; gone in a hack 
by himself. 

There are only two drummers there, Clark Hansel 

and A1 Shields, and there is no chance of getting 

them to go, for it is out of Hansel’s territory alto- 

» 

gether and Shields has just finished the trip. 

There is no use talking, Desbrough,” says Shelby, 
"you and Mr. Horton will have to make up the 
party.” 

" What say you. Chess — shall we go ? ” 

" As you please, George. I am with you, and 
whatever you decide will suit me.” 

" I guess we might as well stick to you, Ed,” says 
Desbrough; "I would as soon make the trip from 
here as from Fort Smith. As I said before, the only 
objection is on account of our mail, and that is 
partially counterbalanced by the good company.” 

"You can have your mail forwarded to Charleston, 
and that will only delay it a day,” says Sloan. 

" All right — we’ll go.” 

And this decides it. 

" Clark,” Desbrough says to Hansel that evening. 


AIS’GELS OE COMMERCE. 


198 


^Svhat did you ever do with that note you g-ave to 
Horace Bartee ? 

He has it yet, I reckon.” 

“ Hansel was in Alma shortly before his marriage,” 
Desbrough explains to the boys, and wanted to 
send a note to his sweetheart. He had been in the 
habit of pajdng a boy a dime to take the note, but 
Horace Bartee and John Plummer happened to be 
with him as he gave the boy this note and said : * I 
wouldn^t take his old note for a dime. Why, he has 
a girl in every town on the Little Bock road, and he 
always pays a quarter every place else,’ so the boy 
refused to carry the missive for less than a quarter. 
Clark only had fifty-five cents, and it would cost him 
forty of that to get back to Fort Smith, so he 
couldnH give a quarter. 

Bartee and Plummer finally made up enough to 
satisfy the kid and he started away. In the mean 
time Clark went to see some customer, and when 
the boy returned he met only Bartee, who told him 
he would give the note to Hansel. 

When Hansel finally showed up, Bartee shook 
the note at him and wouldn’t give it up until he had 
signed an order for a dollar, payable at sight by his 
house. This naturally broke Hansel up, but he had 
to submit.” 

" Yes,” says Clark, and the fool presented the 
sight draft too, but I had left instructions not to 
pay it, so he still holds it. But here, Shields — here 

13 




194 

comes our train,” and bidding* the boys good-by they 
rush away. 

The next morning the four boys mak« an early 
start in a two-seated hack, Shelby driving. 

Very little occurs to break the monotony until 
the following Saturday, when they are on their way 
to Waldron. 

It has rained very hard nearly all the forenoon, 
and the party has not been feeling over jolly, but 
just as they turn into the Fort Smith and Waldron 
road, some nine miles from the latter place they 
meet another hack-load of drummers. 

That looks like Eugene Adler, from Fort Smith, 
driving,” says Desbrough, " and I believe those are 
all Fort Smith drummers.” 

" That is Skipworth on the back seat, to a dead 
moral certainty,” says Sloan, and Allen Kennedy 
with him ; but who is that with Adler ? ” 

" Charlie Kaighler. He has been on the road only 
a short time,” Desbrough replies, and then continues : 
" Boys, we will have a good time at Waldron, sure, 
for there is as jolly a lot as ever started out.” 

The hacks draw nearer, stop, exchange salutations 
and introductions, and the Fort Smith hack then 
takes the lead. 

As they are crossing the eight-mile ” creek the 
tug breaks from one of the horses that Shelby drives 
and a delay of fifteen or twenty minutes is caused. 
This delay puts them so far back of the Fort Smith 


ANGELS OE COM3IEUCE. 


195 


hack that they do not catch sight of it again until 
they come to Poteau Creek, just before reaching 
Waldron, and in plain sight of the town. 

There, standing in the middle of the stream, they 
behold the hack with the drummers perched high 
upon the seats intensely interested in a game of 

high five,^^ while one of the horses stands hitched 
to the vehicle and the other is completely turned, 
with his face toward the boys. 

" What on earth is the matter ? Desbrough in- 
quires. 

And between the plays Adler manages to explain 
that there was some doubt as to whether the creek 
was fordable or not, so the boys had placed their 
grips on the seats together with their samples, and 
had perched themselves on them in hopes of keeping 
everything dry. As they neared the centre of the 
branch, to their great discomfiture the nigh horse, 
which had figured in several runaways, tried to 
kick, but only succeeded in loosening the tug and 
turning himself end for end, where he still stood 
eyeing the boys with suspicious glances. 

The boys had endeavored to get the beast turned 
round again, but were unsuccessful. They tried to 
climb out on the tongue of the hack, but the frac- 
tious animal refused to be righted, and there they 
were, in danger of the whole outfit being swept down 
stream. 

After much discussion it was finally determined 


196 ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 

that the only way was for some one to go into the 
creek, catch the animal hy the head, and turn him 
around; hut who ? 

Allen Kennedy had suggested that they draw 
cuts, hut this plan was given up almost as soon as 
broached, for the reason that the one who held the 
straws would have the advantage. Numerous 
schemes were discussed, hut they could not decide 
upon any, until Adler proposed that they play high 
five,” and the lowest man (when 52 points were 
reached) should go into the water. 

So here they were, playing for dear life. The 
water was chilly and it was a serious matter. If 
the game had been for a thousand dollars they 
could not have been more earnest in their endeavor 
to win. 

As soon as everything is satisfactorily explained 
to the hoys in the other hack, Shelby calls out : 

" Well! get a move on you. Either fish or cut 
bait!” 

"We^ll fish all right if some one will furnish the 
bait, but there’s none to cut,” answers Kennedy; 
"Til bid five.” 

" This rise in the creek must have been caused hy 
an incendiary,” says Desbrough. 

The rise in the hackfi Adler replies, " was caused 
by a loosened tug. I’ll bid seven.” 

"Why don’t you wade in and turn your horse 
around?” Horton finally asks. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


107 


" That is just what one of us is going to do. I’ll 
raise it to eight,” says Kaighler. 

“ Prod him in the mouth and make him hack out,” 
suggests Sloan. 

" I’d like to,” answers Skipworth, and make him 
swallow the prod. I can’t raise it, Kaighler.” 

Hearts,” says Kaighler, and they begin to dis- 
card to their hands, while Desbrough says, Build 
a fire under him — that will start him.” 

" Or,” Sloan suggests, “ blow in his left ear. I’ve 
heard that will make ’em go every time.” 

One of jmu get over on the other bank and hold 
corn out to him.” 

But the boys are too interested now to answer 
these sallies. 

Finally Adler (becoming desperate) bids ten on 
the next hand and gets set back, and remarks: “ I 
am elected, boys, just as sure as a goose goes bare- 
footed,” which proves to be correct, for Kaighler wins 
the points lost by Adler and goes out, while the loss 
of the ten points places Adler two behind Kennedy, 
who was hitherto the lowest in the race. 

But the boys have pledged themselves to stand 
by the record, and without more ado Adler proceeds 
to undress and go into the water (cold as it is) up 
to his arms. 

He makes short work of it, the horse is righted, 
the tug fastened, and the party move on. 

Shelby drives his hack safely across, and after 


198 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


Adler is dressed the hacks, at three p.m., reach 
Free Maloneys hotel and the boys pile out, thankful 
to he alive. 

They hurry through the trade (as most of them 
wish to he home the coming Thursday for Thanks- 
giving), and most of them finish their work that 
night. 

While they sit around the front veranda waiting 
for the supper-bell to ring, another bell down the 
street is heard, and one of the boys remarks that 
some one is getting ahead of Free (Malone’s name 
is Free); hut Adler, who has made the town every 
thirty days for years, volunteers the information 
that this is not a supper-hell but the ma^7-hell.” 

When the mail arrives in Waldron the post-ofSce 
is closed and kept closed until everything is dis- 
tributed, then the postmaster goes to the door and 
rings the bell as if an auction was in progress. Then 
the people rush with one accord as to a fire and 
see what prize they have drawn in Uncle Sam’s 
lottery. 

While the hoys are watching this interesting pro- 
ceeding, Eoherts, the mail-driver (a one-legged, 
queer genius, with a voice pitched away above the 
clouds), comes up. He has a rope halter on his arm 
and sings out as he approaches : “ Boys, has any- 
body seen anything of two big gray mules astray 
around here ? ” And Shelby, whose voice is as strong 
a bass as Roberts’ is a fine tenor, answers : 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


199 


"No, we haven’t, old man ; but don’t cry about it. 
We’ll find your mules for j ou.” 

" Cry ! ” says Roberts in disgust. " Cry ! Why, 
you blamed fool, that is my natural voice,” and he 
retires amid the laughs of the multitude. 

Just then the supper-bell rings, and Adler in- 
quires : 

"Is that supper. Free?” And Malone replying 
in the affirmative, Desbrough says : 

" Come on, boys'. He says the supper’s free’’ 

And Malone follows the crowd to the dining-room 
in the basement, to explain the joke and impress 
upon them that the supper is not free. 

Shortly after the meal is finished, Adler and Des- 
brough go across the road to Dr. Cox’s drug store 
and are relating the above incident, when Adler 
happens to glance up and sees on an upper shelf a 
package labelled " Fireworks.” 

His curiosity is immediately excited, and he in- 
quires what kind of fireworks the package contains. 

" Everything, from a balloon to a Roman candle,” 
the doctor says. 

" How much will you take for the whole shooting 
match ? ” Desbrough inquires. 

"I don’t know, Desbrough, what they are worth; 
not much, I reckon. Why — do you want them ? ” 

"Yes, if they are not too much.” 

" How would a couple of dollars strike you ? ” ~ 

" All right — wait a moment,” and going to the 


200 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


door he calls to the rest of the hoys sitting* on the 
hotel veranda, who come over and enter into Des- 
hrough’s scheme at once, which is to purchase the 
lot and fire them off in front of the store. 

^^Will they allow us to fire them?^’ Horton in- 
quires. 

"Yes, they’ll allow anything* so long as you don’t 
burn the town,” and the doctor proceeds to take 
down the package. 

The boys find that their purchase is much more 
valuable than they had anticipated. 

There is a half-dozen big balloons representing 
elephants, pigs, and men; pin-wheels, sky-rockets, 
mines, and Eoman candles galore, besides two or 
three special pieces that are to be attached to the 
balloons and sent up with them, a slow fuse reserv- 
ing the fire until high in air. 

Adler and Desbrough, as masters of ceremonies, 
start the ball rolling with a few Roman candles and 
rockets, which being seen by the villagers soon at- 
tract them to the spot, and long ere the display is 
ended half the populace is present to witness it. 

The ascension of the balloons is reserved for the 
last. 

The people are already enthusiastic, and as the in- 
flating process begins, they gradually crowd each 
other until there is scarcely space for the exhibitors 
to stand. 

The first three or four balloons with their Are- 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


201 


works attachment are an overwhelming success, and 
g*o dripping* the oil (with which the sponges are 
saturated) and scattering sparks from the fireworks 
all over the buildings in a way that threatens to 
burn the town. 

In order to start them properly, the hoys have 
brought two high office stools from the store, and 
on these are perched two of the drummers, who 
hold the sides of the balloon high in air while Des- 
brough and Adler light the sponge and attend to 
the inflating. 

When all is ready the fireworks are attached, the 
fuse lighted, and away it goes amid the cheers and 
plaudits of an admiring audience. 

The largest balloon is reserved for the last, and 
an immense piece which has the appearance of a 
cross between a sky-rocket and a huge pin-wheel 
kept as an attachment. 

" Boys,” Horton says, Bm afraid that thing isffit 
meant to be sent up in air. The fuse is too short. 
The thing may go off before the balloon does.” 

Pshaw ! ” Kennedy replies as he holds the pack- 
age up to the light, that’s all right. This balloon 
calls for fireworks and this is the onl}^ piece left.” 

All the same, this piece has a hole in the centre, 
and I believe it is meant to be nailed to a post.” 

“ Let her go on the balloon,” says Kaighler, and 
light her just as the balloon leaves. It can’t do any 
harm.” 


202 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


In the mean time Shelby and Skip worth, being* the 
two tallest; are standing on the stools holding the 
balloon up, while Desbrough is on his knees beneath, 
manipulating the sponge. 

When the balloon is only half-filled, Adler takes 
the mysterious display piece, and kneeling down 
begins to attach it by wires to the cross-piece hold- 
ing the sponge. 

Don't do that, Eugene,” says Desbrough. W ait 

till we get the balloon filled.” 

But Adler continues to wrap the wire around re- 
gardless of consequences. At this moment Allen 
Kennedy, unobserved, kneels down, apparently to see 
how everything is getting on, and before any one 
can stop him, touches a match to the fuse. 

Amost with lightning rapidity there is a fizz! 
poof 1 1 hang ! ! I and the piece, which proves to be, as 
Horton has said, meant to be nailed to a post, starts 
off like a sky-rocket with its tail on fire, crying to 
be put out, and the fun commences. 

Shelby and Skipworth tumble off their stools, 
while Desbrough, Adler, and Kennedy fall over each 
other in their mad desire to escape. 

J. M. Sloan, who has been standing near watching 
proceedings but taking no active part, now rushes 
to the rescue. He is unaware that the fireworks 
piece is attached to the balloon, sees that the balloon 
is in imminent danger of being destroyed, so he 
grabs it and tries to jerk it away from the fire. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


203 


Of course, being attached by wires, it follows him 
wherever the balloon does, and thinking Beelzebub 
or some other princely demon must be after him, 
he begins a race, which for a time is quite as excit- 
ing as the chariot race of Ben Hur.” 

He rushes into the drug store, dragging the bal- 
loon after him, and fearful that his store will be 
burned. Dr. Cox promptly puts him out and tells 
Emmett (his clerk) to lock the doors. 

On Sloan dashes through the crowd of people, 
still holding on to the balloon like a pup to a root, 
and scatters them in every direction. 

Desbrough, Shelby, Skipworth, Adler, Horton, 
Kaighler, and Kennedy lean up against the building, 
convulsed and roaring with laughter, and long after 
the fire piece has spent its fury and Sloan returns 
with the dilapidated and torn balloon (himself 
breathless with excitement and exertion, the per- 
spiration rolling from his face in great drops), the 
boys go off in fits of mirth and merriment. 

The balloon is patched up, refilled, and floats away 
into the night with no light attached but the burn- 
ing sponge. 

The crowds disperse and the boys go back to the 
hotel, feeling that no thousand-dollar Fourth of July 
celebration could in an^’' manner approach the en- 
tertainment furnished by their two*dollar display. 


204 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


“ And in that town a dog was found, 

As many dogs there be, 

Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound. 

And curs of low degree.”— Oiwer Goldsmith. 

The only chance for Horton and Desbroug’h to 
g’et home to Memphis for Thanksgiving* is to go to 
Mansfield on Sunday and take the afternoon train 
for Fort Smith, so — reluctantly — they leave the boys 
to continue their journey alone and the next morn- 
ing leave in a special hack, hired for the occasion. 

They arrive in Fort Smith for supper and are 
driven to the Hotel Main. 

A dapper little fellow, with a silk hat, light fall 
overcoat, and the latest style of gloves, has arrived 
on the same train, and after Horton and Desbrough 
register he steps to the front, and taking a pen is 
about to inscribe his name, when glancing up he 
catches sight of Alex Walker’s bald head. 

Walker is the proprietor of the Main. He is some- 
what sensitive in regard to his hairless cranium and 
does not like to have people say anything in refer- 
ence to it, so he is somewhat startled when the 
stranger exclaims, Well! I declare if here isn’t an- 
other bald-headed man/’ and before Walker can 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


205 


reply, continues: you know, I don’t believe 

bald-headed men are honest.” 

This nettles mine host, and he retorts : See here, 
my friend, I try to treat my guests courteously, but 
I won’t have you or any one else stand here and in- 
sult me.” 

Now, don’t get excited,” the little fellow replies, 
and looks sharply at Walker, who is more than six 
feet tall. I was only speaking of what my experi- 
ence has been, and I will add right here that I never 
yet saw a bald-headed man that wouldn’t lie and 
cheat his best friend out of his eye-teeth.” 

This is too much, and Walker is all but ready to 
climb over the office counter and mop the floor with 
his maligner, when the latter again says : 

"I am sorry. I hate to say these things, but 
really a bald-headed man somehow will prove a 
rascal wherever you And him, and — what ? 

No ! I was just going to say that I wasn’t speak- 
ing of you in particular, but of the average bald- 
headed man, though if the shoe fits you — or the hat 
rather — you will have to wear it of course, but you 
will agree with me that bald-headed men are, with- 
out an exception, mean, low-lived, contemptible 
wretches and 

But Walker’s temper can stand no more. With 
an oath he bounds over the counter and reaches out 
for the man’s throat, but falls back as the stranger 
deftly evades his grasp, and removing his silk tile. 


206 ANGlilLS 01" COMMERCE. 

shows a pate so bald that his own mother could not 
gather enough hair to show in a locket. 

The crowd in the office (who have excitedly 
gathered around expecting to see a fight) now raise 
a shout, and Walker and the stranger join in the 
laugh and shake hands, the former acknowledging 
that the laugh is on him. 

Horton and Desbrough are gi /en a room at the 
McKibben House, which is across the way and run 
in connection with the Main. 

The room proves to be next to that occupied by 
the “ Frisco ” conductors. Cols. John Lopp and Jack 
Carr. 

One conductor comes in at two o’clock in the after- 
noon on alternate days, while the other leaves an 
hour before his arrival. 

It so happens (on the night of the boys’ arrival) 
that E. B. Miller, the assistant auditor of the road, 
is rooming with Colonel Lopp, and as Desbrough 
and Horton sit in their room quietly smoking, they 
hear the distinguished colonel storming up and down 
in his room and occasionally wandering off into the 
tangled undergrowth of the profane. 

Desbrough is well acquainted with both Lopp and 
Miller, and next morning inquires of them as to the 
cause of the outburst. 

Lopp proceeds to explain that Jack Carr (who is 
a great guy and an inveterate joker) had informed 
the colored porter, on the day previous, that he 


oi' COMMEUCTi 


Sol' 


(Lopp) was very desirous of obtaining a nice hunt- 
ing dog for himself and a good cat for a friend of 
his, for both of which he would pay a good price if 
delivered on the da3^ of Lopp^s run into Fort Smith, 
at his room in the McKibben. 

The porter had told all his friends, who, meta- 
phorically speaking, had published it both in Gath 
and Askalon, and upon Lopp^s arrival Sunday after- 
noon he found a dozen or so darkies collected around 
his door, with an army of dogs and cats embracing 
every known variety of both species. 

Lopp^s first impulse had been to kick them all out, 
but knowing full well that Carr was at the bottom 
of it all, he had sent them away, requesting that 
they call at ten o’clock the following morning, be- 
cause he wouldn’t buy a dog or cat unless he knew 
their pedigree, or at least did not like to, and any- 
how he wouldn’t purchase them on Sunday. 

He had done this in order to gain time and to 
think of some way to pay Carr back. 

In the mean time the boys with their dogs and 
cats had been coming to his door all Sunday after- 
noon at irregular intervals, and it was immediately 
after a seance with one of these embassadors that 
the boys had heard the colonel in his tirade. 

What are you going to do about it ? ” Desbrough 
inquires. 

I shall buy up every cat and dog that comes 
along,” Lopp replies, and there will be plenty of 


208 


AISTGELS OF COMMERCE. 


them, for I told them, all to come back and bring' 
their friends, and then I will turn them loose in the 
room and let Carr take charge of them when he 
comes.” 

" Are you going to be here, Mr. Miller ? ” 

“ No. Unfortunately I am going away. I should 
enjoy being here to see how Carr takes it, above all 
things.” 

Wedl be here,” Desbrough says, ^^and will send 
our report to you.” 

“ All right, do. I know Carr will enjoy it.” 

You and Colonel Lopp had better take a vaca- 
tion for a week or t no, or at least until Carr re- 
covers.” 

Carr had better take a vacation before he comes,” 
says Lopp sententiously. 

Desbrough and Horton await the coming of the 
Frisco with more than ordinary interest, and as the 
time approaches they retire to their room to await 
the coming event. 

They haven’t long to wait. 

Carr soon comes along the hall, whistling and 
happily unconscious of the fate awaiting him, but 
anxious to hear how Lopp has succeeded with his 
pets. 

He soon knows, for on opening his door a savage, 
hungry-looking whelp makes a dash at him and is 
about to taste his legs, but is sawed off by Carr 
slamming the door in his face. 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


209 


Theft the jolly conductor procures a chair, and 
climbing up peeps over the transom, and what a 
sight meets his .gaze ! A dozen dogs and twice as 
many cats. 

The dogs have treed the cats, and they are 
perched in every available nook in the room, on 
dresser, bed, and Avashstand, in motley confusion. 

Carr is afraid to open the door and go in, and he 
does not care to call for assistance, because he 
wouldnT have it get out that Lopp had gotten ahead 
of him for anything. 

Carr’s face at the transom brings consternation 
to the cats, and they begin to jump around and 
yowl, thinking they have a new foe to contend 
Avith, and this very naturally sets the dogs going, 
and they bark and howl until it is a perfect pande- 
monium let loose. 

At this moment Desbrough thrusts his head out 
at the door and inquires innocently : 

What’s the matter. Jack ?” 

Hello ! Desbrough. Is that you ? Come here ! ” 

And Desbrough comes out, folloAved by Horton, 
Avhom he introduces, and then Carr says: 

“ Get up on that chair and look in my room.” 

Which Desbrough and Horton do and again start 
the dogs and cats on a reign of terror. 

What is it. Jack ? ” 

" A dog show. I’m going in to kill it presently. 
Will you join me ?” 

14 


210 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


thanks. I haven^t my steel armor with me 
at present. Say, Jack! where did you get this 
menagerie ? 

John Lopp gave it to me. Tell me, Desbrough, 
how will I ever get those beasts out ? ” 

You might go in and tame them and then drive 
them out, or you can get a ladder and a gun and 
climb up to the transom and shoot them one by 
one.” 

“In the first place the transom is closed and 
locked,” he answers; “and secondly", I donT care to 
litter up the room and call in the police. Til tell 
you what I’ll do. I’ll open the door and stand to 
one side and let them escape.” 

“Yes, and you will have the hall as full as your 
room and you can’t even get into the building from 
the outside. I will tell you what you can do, though. 
Get a club and let out one at a time and drive him 
down-stairs.” 

This plan seems feasible enough and Carr goes 
and secures a cane, then he approaches the door and 
opens it a little, while Desbrough and Horton stand 
back to give him a fair chance and see the fun. 

As the door opens, the dog who first tried to eat 
him up comes out as though he had left something 
out there by mistake and was coming after it, and 
ere Carr can swipe him with his cane, takes a 
mouthful of his leg in his teeth and goes howling 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


211 


down-stairs, while Desbroug'h, acting* as umpire, 
calls out, One strike/^ 

And out” adds Horton. 

"Yes, and I have lost a good square meal out of 
my leg,'' Carr says savagely. 

" Striker at the bat," calls Desbrough, and Carr, 
with a resolution born of desperation, cautiously 
opens the door again. 

This time a big yellow-and-white country dog 
comes bounding through the doorway, foaming at 
the mouth like a glass of beer, but ere he can gorge 
himself with Carr's anatomy he gets hit a lick that 
fairly loosens his teeth. 

"A two-bagger," calls Desbrough, and they all 
laugh as the cur goes down the stairs seven steps 
at a time. 

" Say, Jack, every dog has his day, don^t he ?" 

"Yes, but the trouble is there are so many more 
dogs than there are days” 

Again the portcullis is opened and two of the 
fiercest brutes come out with a dash, smiling sar- 
castically and causing the batsman to retreat until 
they can retreat. 

A shaggy Newfoundland half-grown dog, who, as 
Carr says, " has hair all over his whiskers," is the 
next on deck and is easily disposed of. 

And then, one by one, the beasts are let into the 
street until only two are left — one a ferocious bull- 


212 


ANGELS OF COMMEKCE. 


terrier, who sits in front of the door as if he had 
stabbed a knot-hole in the floor with his tail and 
couldn^t g*et it out, and the other a poor, weak little 
bleared-eyed pup, who seems to be in a perpetual 
state of weak-chested and neuralg’ic regret/^ 

One can't be moved because he won't be moved, 
and the other hasn’t enough sense to come out. 

Every time the door is opened the bull-terrier 
growls and shows his teeth, as much as to say : 

‘"Pause! Another step and it is your next!" 
and when Carr finally gets a chair and throws it at 
him, he comes out and brings his teeth with him, 
and offers to insert them free of charge, and for a 
time it is a question whether he will do it and carry 
Carr off in them or whether Carr can drive him off. 

Both fight desperately until at last they near 
Desbrough’s room, whither he and Horton have fled, 
and Carr, by a flank movement, shies in at the door 
and closes it after him just in time to leave a portion 
of his coat-tails outside with the brute. 

Then the bull-dog sits down outside and waits for 
him, while the boys sit within, cooling off after 
Carr’s hard-fought battle, especially Carr, and 
awaiting results. 

At length a brilliant idea strikes Carr, and step- 
ping to the electric bell he touches the button, and 
the porter, a moment later, coming to answer the 
call, attracts the attention of the beast, who starts 
for him before he gets half-way up-stairs, and away 


AISTGELS OF COMMERCE. 


213 


they go together, the darkey about four lengths 
ahead. 

After this the task of clearing the room is an 
easy one. 

The weak-minded pup and the cats are sent skit- 
tering down into the street. 

Much remains unsung, as the tom-cat remarked 
to the brickbat when it abruptly cut short his sere- 
nade,” quotes Desbrough. 

You just wait until Lopp hears my song and he 
will think so,” Carr rejoins. feel like a man 
whose ^life has been sacrificed on the altar of a 
scrub- woman^s vengeance.^ Gentlemen, I thank you 
for your assistance, and now I will leave you for a 
few days’ rest.” 

Well, Chess! ” says Desbrough, after all is over, 
this is a fit ending for our verj^ interesting trip.” 

" Yes I We’ve had a ^ monkey and a parrot ’ time 
of it ever since we started, and to-morrow we can 
start for home, feeling that a drummer’s life is one 
continual whirl of pleasure and enjoyment if not 
employment.” 


214 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


CHAPTER XV. 

“ In happy homes he saw the light 
Of household fires gleam warm and bright.” — Longfellow. 

“ But Eldorado is my home,” interposed the old alchemist. 

“ Or is home Eldorado ? ” asked the poet with the withered wreath, turning 
toward the alchemist.”— Pnte and 1. 

""What time do we get to Memphis, George ?” 

"" Wednesday night at eight o^clock, if the train is 
on time. You know there is no bridge across the 
river at that place and frequently the train is de- 
layed an hour or two.^^ 

""At any rate weTl he there in good time for 
Thanksgiving.^^ 

""Yes. Sufficiently early to see the turkey prop- 
erly roasted.^^ 

At nine o’clock the next morning the hoys start 
for Little Rock, riding all day long. 

Harry Angel, the conductor, is quite a particular 
friend of Deshrough’s, and this of itself would help 
make the trip a pleasant one, hut at different stations 
along the line many of the hoys who have been 
travelling companions during their trip get on, and 
so the time passes quickly. 

The following day they leave for Memphis, and at 
eight o’clock that night the train rolls into the 
depot, and the two get into a hack. 


ANGELS OF COMMEECE. 


215 


As they drive to Desbroug*h^s residence Horton 
says: 

" It has been nearly a year since I have seen Julie 
and the boys. What a long time it seems, and how 
the lads must have grown ! ” 

" You will still recognize them, I think. Chess, for 
they are the same rollicking, happy-go-lucky, mis- 
chief-loving lads. Chess is more like you, I think. 
Our giving him your name must have some influence 
over his life, for he is more quiet and thoughtful for 
other people’s comfort than his brother is, though 
full enough of his pranks. Phil, like his rascally 
father, goes ahead more heedlessly. Yet he, too, 
has a tender heart, and doesn’t mean any harm.” 

Don’t you find them awfully hard to manage 
sometimes ? ” 

"Their mother has their training and they are 
bound to come out all right under any circumstance. 
Won’t they be tickled to see you, Chess ! The 
last letter I had from home, you remember, was 
filled with anticipation of when ^ Uncle Chess should 
come.’ ” 

" They are no more anxious for me to come than 
I am to be there. Isn’t that your house, George ? ” 

" Yes, and there they all are at the windows— even 
to Quivive.” 

" That’s the wonderful Skye whose acquaintance I 
am so anxious to make,” says Horton, who loves 
dogs and understands them. 


216 


ANGELS OF COMMERCE. 


Yes, there she stands in all the glory of a new 
ribbon, in honor of our arrival, with her black nose 
flattened against the cold pane. Hear her yelp, 
smart little brute, and here they come trooping 
out.^^ 

The carriage stops, the two climb out and are 
hugged and kissed until they nearly smother, and 
are given such a welcome as makes them forget 
they have ever had a care or trial. 

Then the children gather the grips together and 
painfully lug them into the house, from whence the 
warmth and light come forth to meet the travellers. 
Quivive prances and barks her welcome, and the 
queen of the realm takes an arm of each drummer, 
the procession moves on toward the house, grips 
and top-coats are deposited in the hall, the door 
closes, and so — good-night. 


THE END. 


The Best Company is the Company that does the most good. 

The Mutusl Life Insurance Company 

OF NEV/ YORK. 


Richard A. McCurdy, President. 


Assets over One Hundred and Forty Million Dollars 

THE LARGEST, OLDEST, AND BEST. 


Issues every desirable form of Policy. Its new Distri- 
bution Policy is the most liberal ever issued by any insurance 
company. For rates and further information address 

GrEO. TILLES, District Manager, Fort Smith, Ark. 


CALDWELL & WEEMS, 



003 GARRISON AVENUE, 

FORT SMITH, ARK. 


WHOLESALE AGENTS FOR 

“Angels of Commerce ; or, TMrty Days with the Drummers of Arkansas.” 

BY 

GEO. H. BRISCOE. 

Newsdealers and the trade supplied in any quantity. 


WILL SCHULTE, 

Livery and Boarding Stable. 



New Stable, 8th Street, Near Garrison Avenue. 

Special attention, given to all calls, day or night. 
KORT SMITH, ARK. 


ARE YOU GOING EAST? 

THEN TRAVEL OVER THE “ OLD RELIABLE ” ROUTE, 

Little Eock and Memphis Eailroad 

TWO FAST EXPRESS TRAINS DAILY, 

MAKING DIRECT CONNECTION AT MEMPHIS. 

No “Bus” Transfer. For all Points East. 

Shortest Line, Fast Time, Sure Connections, Perfect Service, Finest Woodruff and Pullman 
Buffet Sleepers on all trains. Through Pullman Buffet Sleepers 
between Little Rock and Louisville, Ky. 

Passengers on the L. R. & F. S. Ry. and St. L., I. M. & So. Ry. should buy local tickets to 

Little Rock and rebuy via this popular route. 

Sleeping Car Berths reserved and information furnished. Address 

H. B. MILLER, H. W. MORRISON, 

T., F. & P. A., Little Rock, Ark. General Pass.Agt., Little Rock, 


CAPITAL 



LITTLE ROCK 


HOTEL, 

, ABK. 


Largest and most Centrally Located Hotel in the City. 
. Four-Stor.y Iron Front; Strictly Fire-Proof. 

Elevator and Fire-Escapes. 


JNO. K. CALEF, Froprietor. 



GROVE’S TASTELESS CHILL TONIC! 


It is as pleasant to the taste as lemon syrup. 
The smallest infant will take it and never 


know it is medicine. 

Children cry for it, Never fails to cure. 
Chills once broken will not return. 

Cost you only half the price of other Chill 
Tonics. 

No Quinine needed. No purgative needed. 
Contains no poison. Cheaper than Quinine. 
It purifies the blood and removes all ma- 
larial poison from the system. 

It is as large as any dollar tonic and retails 
for 50 cents. 

WiRLimANTE:!:!. 

CoRNERSVILIJC, Miss., Dcc. 12, 1883. 
Paris Mkdicinb Co., Paris, Tenn. 

Please send me three doz. of your Grove's Tasteless Chil* 
Tonic. I was pleased with the lot from you last summer. Thi 
people were delighted with it. I gave your Chill Tonic to som« 
children who were pale and swarthy and emaciated, bavin{ 
had chronic chills for months past, one of them for a year, ant 
within three weeks after beginning with the Chill Tonic the' 
were halo and hearty, with red and rosy cheeks. It acted liki 
a charm. W.W, Stiwsom, M. I), 


TESTIMONIALS— GROVE’S TASTELESS CHILL TONIC. 


Cornersville, Miss., Dec. 26, 1888. 
Paris Medicine Co., Paris, Tenn. 

Please send me three doz. of your Grove’s Tasteless 
Chill Tonic. I was pleased with the lot I got from 
you last summer. The people were delighted with it. 
I gave your chill tonic to some children who were 
pale and swarthy and emaciated, having had chronic 
chills for months past, one of them for a year, and 
within three weeks after beginning with the chill 
tonic, they were hale and hearty, with red and rosy 
cheeks. It acted like a charm. 

Yours, etc., W. W. Stinson, M.D. 


Saltillo, Tenn., Oct. 31, 1888. 

Paris Medicine Co. 

Gents : — Please send me six doz. Grove’s Tasteless 
Chill Tonic. We are getting up a good sale for your 
goods. We expect by next season to sell four hun- 
dred bottles of your Tasteless Chill Tonic, 

Respectfully, W. F. Hinckle & Co. 


Mount Calm, Texas, Oct. 16, 1888. 
Paris Medicine Co. 

Please send one gross Grove’s Tasteless Chi 
Tonic. Same terms as before. 

D. M. Blackburn. 



Bainesville, Miss., July 30, 1888. 
Paris Medicine Co., Paris, Tenn. 

Please send me five doz. Grove’s Tasteless Chill 
Tonic. Your tasteless tonic is a good seller, 

W. A. Young, M.D. 


Saltillo, Tenn., Jan. 4, 1889. I 
Paris Medicine Co., Paris, Tenn. 

Gents : — Enclosed find amount due you for our lasti 
bill. Your Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic sustains it-l 
self. We expect a heavy run on your chill tonic whenj 
the chill season comes again, | 

Respectfully, W, F, Hinckle «fe Co. ; 


Mount Calm, Texas, Sept. 13, 1888. 
Paris Medicine Co., Paris, Tenn. 

Dear Sirs : — Big demand for your Tasteless Chill 
Tonic. I am out, haven’t a bottle in the house, and 
a dozen or more calls for it every day. Send at once, 
care St. Louis, Ark. & Texas R. R., one gross Grove’s 
Tasteless Chill Tonic. 

Respectfully, D. M. Blackburn. 


Enola, Ark., June 24, 1888. 
Paris Medicine Co., Paris, Tenn. 

Gents : — Enclosed find check for amount due you 
Your medicines are all you claim for them. 

B. Holloway, Druggist. 


18 


Mr: 




Lavaca, Ark., Sept. 21, 18S8. 

Paris Medicine Co. 

F'lease send me three doz. Grove’s Tasteless Chill 
Tonic as early as possible. We are nearly out anc 
there will be a demand for it before it will reach us 
We are having a big run on it since we got it intrO' 
duced. The M.D.s are prescribing it. 

Ivey & Norris. 























V V ci* « 0» -i O, 

o'^ > * /^<eo ' , % G°- • 

Ji^ J^fZy>52, •#* 

-oo' :»wgm - •" ’' ' 

'.' 4^ 



^ \ r\J 

'. <- 8 M , . 

/■ ^ .0 

.0, ® 
O . s - 




^ y-. 

c <Xy’ o '" c*^ " 

*, 

\^ .Ifl ^ 0 J> >. '*' ^G ^ 

.1*^ '- 

^ T 

" ■;! ^ 

/■ ^H\''XSs^ ^ Oc c(- 

(-^ o '<^ ^*■05^ « o . 

)> •'o \' » 






* ■ 



* 


^ I 


V'„ ^ .r(i\ A o c.*^ >. .^illl® - 


:''^v : 4 


< 

= a 






^ n . A * -< 0 ^ 






1. 

<v g , \ >» '0 

\ <^ 0 ^ s 

® 1 •'O^ 

.\> ,0 ^ 9> C y>' 

.\ 'o '^„\.^ ,&^ < 'Tf^s'’ ,-\ *0 *v 

^ ‘ ^ "^p^ .o'J i 0 '• , ' « e ' ^ ^ V I 1 , '/^ 


<1 




1^ i» ^ 


.X 






\0°x. 


„ > ft<- 
- 0 M 0 y V 



o 




L^‘ 




^ \ A 







,v 


oj ^ V 



^ S ^ ^ N 0 ^ > \^ ^ * 0 ^ 

^ MW^' - ^ 


\.^' ^f'- => 





A^' 


C> 



CP‘ ',- "'-'■ . .V ' • ‘ ' JV ” ' ' .V ' * * ' ' 


V 

o 0 


-T* 




<✓* f 

<* 

^ _ _ 

' ■' o 

<1 .A' <>. ..-MW -<• If <;> C5, « .A 

V?s!?/A o 'c:* ^‘^'’ ./ ’L "v/>. ,A'‘ ""AWM/ZA® 



-? o 

^ o'^ 

o'i A.. 

IV'^ > N.V ^ 

-ft vL> 



V 





O^ s ^ 

y .j. 


^ ■<> 


'yi / - ^ 

Z aV ^ 

-lu. , 16 -. . A- ,/>. O 

A' A ^ 

* 

’’‘*'''' 1^''^^ -s''^/;* 0 . <■ A. 

ii an"^ ^ Md/yy y 



* 7 ^ cc^y/zi vw 

^ g , ^ ' ^0^ ■'O 

y s,yy '' 


^ 'J K^? ^\^‘' 


\ 



" .xA ° 



V ^ ^ « / 


■ r \V^ 


-' Z 

0. 

^ -1/ .^^\N" y ^ 

" A -V 1 8 ^ -0^ c«^ A. ■ 

. "°o' : 



''» 7 ,\* ' ^ 0 -' 

c (iS •- ^-^!iii 




Z "* 

O ((// 

' ■^> 

. -A,. A *• 


oH vV 

\y 

’* A''"' '^-''* 

v' (.’"»/ 




, jA3" ^ 'i'o xiO^ \V 

r . 0 ^. .V C. V* .'*«, 




